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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 


Katharine  F.  Richmond 

and 

Henry  C.  Fall 


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NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AS  IT  IS. 

IN    THREE    PARTS. 

PART    I. 

A  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 

FBOH     ITS     FIRST     SETTLEMENT     TO     TUE     ADOPTION     OF    THE    FEDERAL 
CONSTITUTION    IN   1788. 

PART    H. 

A  GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE; 

CONTAINING  A  PARTICULAR  DESCRIPTION   OF  THE   SEVERAL   TOWNS,  CITIES, 

VILLAGES,    &c. ;    REMARKABLE   CURIOSITIES,    MINERAL   LOCALITIES, 

STATISTICAL  TABLES  i  ALSO,  THE  BOUNDARY  AND  AREA  OF 

TOE  STATE ;  A   GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  COUNTIES, 

BOTH  HISTORICAL  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL. 

PART    III. 

A  GENERAL  VIEW  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE ; 

CONTAINING  A  DESCMPTION  OF  ITS   SOIL,  PRODUCTIONS,  CLIMATE  ;  ITS  GEO- 
LOGICAL AND  JHNERALOGICAL  FEATURES  ;  THE  PRINCIPAL  MOUNTAINS, 
LAKES,  AND  RIVERS  j  EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION  ;  BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCHES  OF  DISTINGUISHED  MEN  ;  LITERARY,  SCIENTIFIC, 
AND  CHARITABLE  ASSOCIATIONS  ;   BANKS,  RAILROADS, 
NEWSPAPERS,  uc. 

TOGETHER  WITH  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  STATE. 

COMPILED      FROM      NUMEROUS      AUTHENTIC      SOURCES, 

BY 

EDWIN    A.    CHARLTON. 

THIRD  EDITION,  REVISED,  WITH  AN  APPENDIX. 

CLAREMONT,  N.  H. : 
TRACY    AND     COMPANY. 

1856. 


TO    THE 

SONS   OF  NEW   HAMPSHIEE 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY 

THE    PUBLISHERS. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 

TKACY    AND     SANFORD, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  New  Hampshire. 


STEREOTYPED   AT  THE 
BOSTON    STEREOTYPE    FOUNDRY. 


F, 


PREFACE. 


The  present  work  was  undertaken  with  the  de- 
sign of  furnishing  as  great  an  amount  of  reliable 
and  important  information  'coneerning  the  past 
history  and  the  present  condition  of  New  Hamp- 
shire as  the  means  at  our  command  and  the  limits 
assigned  us  would  allow. 

In  the  Historical  Sketch  we  have  aimed  to 
give  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  leading  events  in  the 
history  of  our  state,  from  its  first  settlement  to  the 
adoption  of  the  federal  constitution.  In  this  we 
have  generally  followed  Dr.  Belknap,  not,  however, 
without  reference  to  other  authorities,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  Barstow's  History  of  New 
Hampshire;  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Col- 
lections ;  Adams's  Annals  of  Portsmouth  ;  together 
with  various  histories  of  the  United  States. 

The  Gazetteer  was  prepared  entirely  by  George 
Ticknor,  Esq.,  of  Claremont,  to  whose  preface  we 
would  refer  the  reader  for  further  information  con- 
cerning that  part  of  the  work. 

The  Third  Part  embraces  a  variety  of  subjects, 
which  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  mention  in  detail. 
The  principal  authorities  whicli  we  have  consulted 

(3) 


iSSv^ 


PREFACE. 


in  its  preparation  are  Farmer  and  Moore's  New 
Hampshire  Gazetteer ;  Hayward's  United  States 
Gazetteer  ;  Dr.  Jackson's  Geological  Report  ; 
Oakes's  White  Mountain  Scenery;  New  Hamp- 
shire Compiled  Statutes ;  Life  of  Eleazar  Whee- 
lock,  founder  of  Dartmouth  College ;  Rev.  N 
Bouton's  Historical  Discourse ;  New  Hampshire 
Annual  Register,  for  the  last  forty  years ;  United 
States  Census  Report  for  1850 ;  together  with 
various  pamphlets  and  periodicals.  To  our  friends 
and  correspondents  who  have  aided  us  in  our  labor, 
we  tender  our  sincere  thanks  for  their  kind  assist- 
ance and  cooperation. 

The  department  of  Biography  is  not  so  full  as 
we  could  have  wished  ;  yet  to  have  given  even  a 
brief  sketch  of  all  deserving  such  a  notice,  would 
have  increased  both  the  ^ize  and  the  price  of  our 
volume  far  beyond  their  prescribed  limits. 

It  has  been  our  aim  to  form  the  plan  of  the 
work  and  to  arrange  the  materials  furnished  us 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  an  harmonious 
whole ;  and  though,  from  the  nature  of  the  case, 
we  can  lay  no  claim  to  literary  merit  or  to  origi- 
nality, yet  we  trust  that  our  eftbrts  to  make  a 
judicious  selection  and  arrangement  have  not  been 
wholly  unsuccessful.  With  these  remarks,  the 
work  is  respectfully  presented  to  the  public. 

E.  A.  C. 

Haybrhill,  N.  H.,  Fdyruary  1,  1865. 


CONTENTS. 

PART    I. 

HISTORICAL    SKETCH. 

CHAPTER    I. 

Introduction.  —  Captain  John  Smith's  Exploration.  —  The  Virginia  Company. 

—  The  Plymouth  Council.  —  Gorges  and  Mason.  —  Grant  of  Mariana  and 
Laconia. — Settlements  at  Portsmouth  and  Dover.  —  "Wheelwright's  Pur- 
chase. —  Mason's  new  Patent.  —  New  Hampshire.  —  Upper  and  Lower 
Plantations. — Neal's  Expedition  to  the  White  Mountains. — Survey  oi 
Portsmouth  and  Dover.  —  Discouragements.  —  Surrender  of  the  Charter  ol 
the  Plymouth  Council.  —  Death  of  Mason. — Reflections 9 

CHAPTER    II. 

HeUgious  Intolerance.  —  Antinomiau  Controversy. — Banishment  of  Wheel- 
wright. —  Settlement  of  Exeter.  —  Formation  of  a  Government.  —  Settle- 
mant  of  Hampton.  —  Affairs  on  the  Piscataqua. — Wiggin  visits  England. 

—  Erection  of  a  Church.  —  Burdet's  Exploits.  —  Morton  abandons  Ports- 
mouth.—  Underhill's  Administration.  —  Knollys  and  Larkham.  —  Dover 
and  Portsmouth  form  Governments.  —  Union  ■with  Massachusetts.  — 
Wheelwright  flees.  —  Laws  of  Massachusetts  and  Character  of  the  early 
Settlers.  —  Persecution  of  the  Quakers.  —  Witchcraft 16 

CHAPTER    III. 

Mason's  Efforts  to  recover  his  Estate.  —  The  King  sends  Commissioners  to 
New  England.  —  Their  Reception,  Treatment,  and  Proceedings.  —  Jealousy 
of  the  Indians.  —  Passaconnaway.  —  Commencement  of  King  Philip's  War. 

—  Attacks  on  various  Places.  — Death  of  Lieutenant  Plaistcd.  —  The  In- 
dians make  Peace.  — Death  of  King  Philip,  and  Renewal  of  Hostilities  at 
the  East. — "tValdron  seizes  the  Refugees  at  Dover. — The  Mohawks  are 
solicited  to  assist  the  English.  —  Captain  Swett  is  defeated.  —  Conclusion 
of  Peace.  —  Omens 24 

(6) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Mason's  renewed  Efforts.  —  Randolph  visits  New  England.  —  New  Hampshire 
is  erected  into  a  royal  Province.  — The  Commission  is  published.  —  Meeting 
of  the  Assembly  and  making  Laws.  — Waldron  succeeds  President  Cutts. — 
_  Cranfield  is  appointed  Governor.  —  His  arbitrary  Proceeding.  —  Gove's  Re- 
bellion.—  Mason  institutes  a  Suit  against  Major  Waldron.  —  "Weare  is  sent 
to  England.  —  Persecution  of  Moody.  —  Fresh  Usurpations  of  Power.  — 
Resistance  of  the  People.  —  Cranfield  obtains  Leave  of  Absence.  —  Barefoot 
succeeds  him.  —  Treaty  with  the  Indians 31 

CHAPTER    V. 

The  Charter  of  Massachusetts  forfeited.  — Dudley  appointed  President  of  New 
England.  —  Succeeded  by  Andros.  —  His  tyrannical  Proceedings.  —  Revo- 
lution in  England.  —  Temporary  Union  with  Massachusetts.  —  Allen  ap- 
pointed Governor  and  Usher  Lieutenant  Governor.  —  King  William's  War. 

—  Attack  on  Dover.  —  Salmon  Falls.  — Expedition  to  Canada.  — Temporary 
Peace.  —  Attack  on  Oyster  River.  —  Conclusion  of  Peace.  —  Usher's  Admin- 
istration. —  Partridge  supersedes  him.  —  The  Earl  of  Bellamont  is  appointed 
Governor,  and  visits  New  Hampshire.  — Allen's  Efforts.  — Dudley  appointed 
Governor 38 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Dudley  holds  a  Conference  with  the  Indians.  —  They  commence  Hostilities.  — 
Various  Attacks.  —  Defence  of  Durham. — Expeditions  against  Port  Royal. 

—  Death  of  Colonel  Hilton.  —  Attempted  Reduction  of  Canada.  —  Appoint- 
ment of  Shute  and  Yaughan  as  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor. — The 
latter  is  superseded  by  John  Wentworth. — Progress  in  industrial  Pursuits. 

—  Settlement  of  Londonderry.  —  Incorporation  of  new  Towns.  — Governor 
Shute  returns  to  England. — More  Trouble  with  the  Indians. — Causes  of 
their  Hostility  to  the  English.  —  Attempt  to  capture  Ralle.  —  Attack  on 
Dover  and  other  Places.  —  Expedition  to  Norridgewock  and  Death  of  RaUe. 

—  Adventures  of  Captain  Lovewell. — Ratification  of  Peace.... 45 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Controversy  with  Massachusetts.  —  Grants  of  Townships.  —  A  new  Assembly 
is  chosen.  —  Burnet's  short  Administration.  —  Belcher  succeeds  him.  -^ 
Death  of  Wentworth  and  Appointment  of  Dunbar.  —  Party  Strife. — Set- 
tlement of  the  Boundary.  —  War  with  France.  —  Siege  and  Capture  of  Lou- 
isburgh. — Project  to  invade  Canada. — Approach  of  a  French  Fleet. — 
Indian  Hostilities. —  Defence  of  Charlcstown.  —  The  licit  of  Mason  sells 
his  Claim.  —  Controversy  between  Governor  Wentworth  and  the  Assem- 
bly. — Proposal  to  settle  the  CoOs.  —  Jealousy  and  Resentment  of  the  In- 
di&DS 66 


CONTENTS.  7 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  "Old  French  War."  —  Indian  Hostilities.  —  Expeditions  against  Crown 
Point.  —  Massacre  at  Fort  Edward.  —  Rogers's  Expedition  against  the  St. 
Francis  Indians.  —  Conquest  of  Canada. — Grants.  —  Settlement  of  the 
western  Boundary.  —  The  Stamp  Act.  —  Meserve  is  appointed  Distribu- 
tor. —  His  Resignation.  —  Demonstrations  of  the  People.  —  Benning  Went- 
worth  is  superseded  by  John  Wentworth. — Taxes.  —  Dartmouth  College. 
—  Division  of  the  Province  into  Counties.  —  The  Tea  sent  to  Portsmouth  is 
reshipped.  —  Convention  at  Exeter.  —  Seizure  of  Gunpowder  and  Arms  at 
Fort  William  Henry.  —  Attempts  of  Wentworth  to  maintain  Peace.  — 
Close  of  his  Administration 63 


CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Revolutionary  War.  — Forces  raised  by  Nev/  Hampshire.  — Preparations  for 
Defence.  —  Treatment  of  the  Tories.  —  Formation  of  a  temporary  Govern- 
ment. —  Expedition  to  Canada.  —  Declaration  of  Independence.  —  Battle  of 
Bennington. — Surrender  of  Burgoyne.  —  Sullivan's  Expedition  against  the 
Seneca  Indians.  —  Close  of  the  War.  —  Adoption  of  a  State  Constitution. — 
Troubles  with  Vermont.  —  Distress  and  Rebellion.  — Formation  and  Adop- 
tion of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  —  Conclusion. 71 


PABT    II. 

GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

Page  85. 


PART    III. 

GENERAL  VIEW  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Page 

SURFACE, 445 

CLIMATE, 446 

GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY, 453 

MINERALS 456 

SOIL  AND    PRODUCTIONS 459 

LAKES, 461 

RIVERS, 463 

MOUNTAINS, 468 


O  CONTENTS. 

ROUTES  TO  WHITE  MOUNTAINS, 477 

EDUCATION 479 

RELIGION «I 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES, 500 

SOCIETIES    AND  ASSOCIATIONS, 661 

RAILROADS, 662 

BANKS 666 

NEWSPAPERS, 667 

CONSTITUTION  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE 666 


NEW  HAMPSHIEE  AS  IT  IS. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Introduction.  —  Captain  John  Smith's  Exploration.  —  The  Virginia  Company. 
—  The  Plymouth  Council.  —  Gorges  and  Mason.  —  Grant  of  Mariana  and 
Laconia. — Settlements  aft.  Portsmouth  and  Dover.  —  Wheelwright's  Pur- 
chase.—  Mason's  new  Patent. — New  Hampshire.  —  Upper  and  Lower 
Plantations. — Neal's  Expedition  to  the  White  Mountains. — Survey  of 
Portsmouth  and  Dover.  —  Discouragements.  —  Surrender  of  the  Charter  of 
the  Plymouth  Council.  —  Death  of  Mason.  — Reflections. 

The  discovery  of  America  in  1492  by  Christopher  Co- 
lumbus was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  events  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world.  In  itself  considered,  it  was  wonderful 
that  an  entire  continent  should  now,  for  the  first  time,  be 
made  known  to  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe  ;  while  the 
effects  of  this  discovery  on  the  destiny  of  the  human  race 
are  incalculable.  On  these  shores,  untrodden  as  yet  save 
by  the  wild  son  of  the  forest,  multitudes  of  every  rank  and 
condition  sought  a  home.  Hither  came  the  needy  adven- 
turer, too  idle  or  too  proud  to  labor  with  his  hands,  hoping 
that  by  some  turn  of  fortune  he  should  amass  wealth  or 
gain  power.  Here,  too,  the  stern,  unyielding,  yet  upright 
Puritan  sought  a  dwelling-place  where  he  might  worship 

(9) 


10  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

his  God  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience. 
Those  bereft  of  all  hope  of  bettering  their  condition  at 
home  deemed  the  wilds  of  the  new  world  a  fitting  place 
to  hide  their  sorroAvs  in  solitude  or  to  attempt  to  retrieve 
their  ruined  fortunes.  The  lawless  outcast,  compelled  "to 
leave  his  country  for  his  country's  good,"  could  find  no 
more  congenial  spot  than  the  newly-discovered  continent. 

At  this  time,  too,  there  was  an  unusual  degree  of  intel- 
lectual excitement  among  the  nations.  Europe,  for  centu- 
ries buried  in  a  universal  night,  began  at  length  to  arouse 
from  her  torpor  and  to  exhibit  new  signs  of  vitality.  The 
invention  of  the  art  of  printing,  of  gunpowder,  and  the  mar- 
iner's compass  were  among  the  results  of  this  activity.  It 
is  not  strange  that,  under  such  circumstances,  a  spirit  of 
adventure  should  pervade  the  public  mind,  and  that  any 
bold  leader  could  induce  many  to  follow  him,  either  for 
conquest  or  discovery. 

But  it  Avas  not  until  a  considerable  time  had  elapsed  that 
New  England  attracted  any  great  share  of  public  attention. 
The  tide  of  emigration,  that  commenced  flowing  almost  at 
the  first  announcement  of  the  discovery,  took  a  more  south- 
erly direction.  The  first  thing  sought  for  was  the  precious 
metals  ;  and  these,  being  found  more  abundant  in  southern 
latitudes,  drew  thither  the  eager  crowd  of  adventurers. 
And  besides,  a  mild  and  genial  climate  and  a  fertile  soil 
offered  far  more  inducements  than  the  bleak  shores  of  the 
north.  But  in  1614  the  renowned  Captain  John  Smith,  so 
well  known  from  his  connection  Avith  the  early  settlement 
of  Virginia,  explored  the  Atlantic  coast  from  the  Penob- 
scot to  Cape  Cod,  trading  Avith  the  natives.  During  this 
voyage  the  RiA'cr  Piscataqua,  Avith  the  harbor  at  its  mouth, 
was  discovered.  On  his  return  to  England  he  presented  a 
map  of  the  country  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  afterwards 
Charles  I.,  who  called  it  Ncav  Enghuid. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  11 

In  the  year  1606  King  James  had  granted  a  charter,  lim- 
iting Virginia  between  the  tliirty-fourth  and  forty-fifth  de- 
grees of  north  latitude.  This  large  territory  was  divided 
between  two  companies  ;  the  southern  part  being  assigned 
to  London  adventurers,  the  northern  to  certain  persons  in 
Bristol,  Exeter,  and  Plymouth.  The  members  of  the 
northern,  or  Plymouth  Company,  finding  themselves  liable 
to  be  encroached  upon  by  their  neighbors,  petitioned  for  a 
new  charter,  which  was  granted  in  1620.  The  corporation 
thus  instituted  was  composed  of  forty  "  nobles,  knights, 
and  gentlemen,"  and  Avas  called  "  The  Council  established 
at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Devon,  for  the  planting, 
ruling,  and  governing  of  New  England  in  America." 

Among  the  most  enterprising  members  of  this  council 
M'ere  Sir  Ferdinando .  Gorges  and  Captain  John  Mason. 
The  former  had  been  an  officer  in  the  navy  of  Queen  Eliz- 
abeth and  companion  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  and  was 
withal  a  man  of  most  daring  and  adventurous  spirit.  The 
latter  was  originally  a  merchant  of  London,  afterwards 
governor  of  Newfoundland,  and  was  scarcely  inferior  to 
his  rival  in  enterprise  and  boldness.  He  soon  procured 
from  the  council  a  grant  of  the  land  between  the  river  of 
Naumkeag  —  now  Salem  —  and  the  Merrimack,  and  ex- 
tending back  to  the  head  waters  of  each.  This  he  called 
Mariana.  The  next  year,  1622,  he  and  Gorges  conjointly 
obtained  a  grant  of  the  territory  extending  from  the  Mer- 
rimack to  the  Sagadahock,*  and  back  to  the  great  lakes 
and  the  river  of  Canada  —  the  St.  Lawrence.  This  was 
named  Laconia.  These  two  grants  comprise  nearly  all  the 
present  territory  of  New  Hampshire,  together  with  portions 
of  the  adjoining  states  and  Canada.  The  same  year  they 
formed  the  "Company  of  Laconia,"  for  the  purpose  of  col- 

*  The  Ivenncbeck. 


12  l^EW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

onizing  their  new  possessions  ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1623 
they  sent  over  David  Thompson,  Edward  and  William 
Hilton,  with  several  others,  to  carry  out  their  designs. 
Thompson,  with  one  division,  landed  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Piscataqua,  on  the  southern  shore,  at  a  place  to  which 
they  gave  the  name  of  Little  Harhor.  Here  they  erected 
salt  works  and  established  a  fishery.  The  Hiltons  went 
eight  miles  farther  up  the  river,  to  Northam,  afterwards 
called  Dover.  These  were  the  first  settlements  M'ithin  the 
present  limits  of  New  Hampshire.  Thompson,  however, 
became  dissatisfied  with  his  situation,  and  in  about  one 
year  removed  to  an  island  in  Massachusetts  Bay  afterwards 
called  by  his  own  name.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  this 
place,  Avhere  he  had  erected  salt  works  and  dwellings,  was 
entirely  deserted. 

For  several  years  these  colonies  on  the  Piscataqua  pro- 
gressed but  slowly.  Unlike  those  who  landed  at  Plymouth 
to  seek  a  home  where  they  might  enjoy  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  the  first  settlers  of  this  state  were  seeking  gain. 
They  hoped,  by  establishing  fisheries  and  carrying  on  trade 
with  the  natives,  to  secure  an  abundant  requital  for  all  their 
labor.  Influenced  by  such  feelings,  they  for  a  time  neg- 
lected agriculture  —  the  only  sure  resource  of  a  new  country. 

Thus  time  passed  away,  presenting  but  few  incidents 
worthy  of  note.  No  remarkable  events  occurred  ;  at  least 
none  have  been  recorded.  Doubtless  in  their  own  little 
circle  these  pioneei's  of  the  wildei'ness  experienced  the 
usual  variety  that  falls  to  the  human  race.  But  what  toils 
and  suflTcrings  they  endured,  neither  history,  nor  tradition 
informs  us. 

In  1629  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  and  others  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  colony  purchased  of  the  Indians,  for  what 
they  deemed  a  valuable  consideration  in  "  coats,  shirts,  and 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  13 

kettles,"  a  considerable  tract  of  land  between  the  Piscata- 
qua  and  the  Merrimack.  The  deed  was  signed  by  Passa- 
conaway,  the  chief  sagamore  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  this 
part  of  New  England,  though  exercising  immediate  juris- 
diction over  the'  Pennacooks  living  on  the  Merrimack  in 
the  vicinity  of  Concord.  It  was  also  signed  by  the  chiefs 
of  several  other  tribes.  This  land  had  been  before  granted 
to  Gorges  and  Mason  by  the  Plymouth  Company ;  but  it 
must  be  admitted  that  the  right  conveyed  by  the  original 
owners  and  occupants  of  the  soil  was  f;ir  better  than  that 
of  a  self-constituted  company  in  a  distant  land  or  of  a  for- 
eign monarch  claiming  it  by  the  right  of  discovery. 

Very  soon  after,  Mason  obtained  a  new  grant  from  the 
Plymouth  Council  of  this  very  same  territorj' ;  whence  it 
has  been  conjectured  that  he  and  Gorges  had  made  a  mutual 
agreement  to  divide  Laconia  and  take  out  new  patents. 
This,  from  the  county  in  England  in  which  he  had  former- 
ly resided,  he  called  New  Hampshire.  EdAvard  Hilton 
also  obtained  a  deed  of  the  land  occupied  by  himself  and 
his  associates  in  the  vicinity  of  Dover.  His  patent  includ- 
ed Dover,  Durham,  Stratham,  and  part  of  Newington  and 
Greenland.  The  London  adventurers,  or  those  settled  near 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  secured  a  grant  including  Ports- 
mouth, Newcastle,  and  Rye,  with  part  of  Newington  and 
Greenland. 

Thus  we  find  that  in  1631  there  were  two  settlements, 
entirely  distinct  and  independent  of  each  other,  commonly 
called  the  Upper  and  Lower  Plantations  ;  the  one  composed 
chiefly  of  "  west  country  adventurers,"  the  other  of  those 
from  London.  Of  the  former.  Captain  Thomas  Wiggin 
was  appointed  agent ;  of  the  latter.  Captain  Walter  Neal. 
Between  the  two,  quarrels  sometimes  arose  about  disputed 
territory  ;  but  they  were  finally  settled  without  bloodshed. 


14  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    13. 

A  desii-e  to  discover  gold  pervaded  the  minds  of  the  col- 
onists. New  Hampshire,  being  a  mountainous  region,  was 
deemed  likely  to  abound  in  the  precious  metals.  Thus, 
though  ostensibly  formed  for  "  trade,  fishery,  salt  making, 
building,  and  husbandry,"  the  companies  early  began  to  ex- 
plore the  wilds  in  search  of  metallic  treasures.  Fabulous 
stories  of  beautiful  lakes  and  rivers  abounding  in  fish,  of 
fertile  i.-ilands  with  most  delightful  climates',  were  freely  cir- 
culated, and  to  a  great  extent  believed.  At  length  Captain 
Neal  started  on  foot,  with  one  or  two  companions,  on  an 
expedition  to  discover  these  fair  lands  in  the  interior  of  La- 
conia.  The  El  Dorado  was  not  found ;  but  in  the  course 
of  their  journey  they  saw  the  White  Mountains  ;  and,  find- 
ing something  there  resembling  crystal,  they  called  them  the 
Crystal  Hills.  For  want  of  provisions  they  Avere  compelled 
to  retux'n,  but  not  until  they  supposed  they  were  within 
one  day's  journey  of  the  wished-for  spot. 

In  1633  Neal  and  Wiggin  surveyed  their  respective  pat- 
ents and  laid  out  the  towns  of  Dover  and  Portsmouth. 
They  agreed  with  Wheelwright  that  his  proposed  town  at 
Swampscot  Falls  should  be  called  Exeter.  Hampton  was 
laid  out  the  same  year ;  but  neither  of  the  last  two  places 
was  settled  until  some  time  later. 

But  in  the  mean  time  Avant,  privation,  and  hardship  were 
producing  their  accustomed  effects.  Agriculture,  as  al- 
ready observed,  was  neglected:  while  the  hopes  of  valuable 
discoveries  proved  Mlacious.  Vines  were  planted,  but 
eamc  to  nothing.  There  was  not  a  mill  in  the  colony ;  but 
"  bread  was  either  brought  from  England  in  meal  or  from 
Virginia  in  grain,  and  theii  sent  to  the  windmill  at  Boston 
to  be  ground."  Iron  mines  were  discovered,  but  not 
wrought.  The  chief  sources  of  income  were  trade  and  the 
fisheries ;  but  even  these  yielded  no  return  to  those  who 
had  advanced  capital.     Meanwhile  new  supplies  of  pro- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  15 

visions,  clothing,  and  other  necessaries  were  frequently  sent 
over  from  the  mother  country.  But,  under  such  circum- 
stances, it  is  no  wonder  that  many  abandoned  the  enterprise. 
Some  sold  their  interests  to  Gorges  and  Mason,  who,  more 
sanguine  than  the  rest,  persevered,  with  the  hope  of  future 
success,  and  finally  became  almost  the  sole  proprietors. 
They  appointed  Francis  Williams  goveruor,  who  is  repre- 
sented as  a  discreet,  sensible  man,  and  very  acceptable  to 
the  people. 

The  Virginia  Company  had  always  viewed  the  Plymouth 
Council  with  jealousy  and  dislike,  and  in  1635  complained 
of  their  charter  as  a  monopoly.  Gorges  appeared  in  person 
before  the  Parliament  to  defend  it,  but  in  vain.  The  char- 
ter was  surrendered ;  though  Gorges  and  Mason  secured  for 
themselves  a  considerable  interest  in  the  territory.  Mason 
had  gained  New  Hampshire,  and  also  purchased  of  Gorges 
a  tract  north-east  of  the  Piscataqua,  three  miles  in  width ; 
but  hi»  death,  which  happened  the  same  year,  put  an  end 
to  all  his  projects.  Had  he  lived,  it  is  not  improbable  that 
he  might  have  recovered  at  least  a  part  of  the  capital  he 
had  expended. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  objects  which  Gorges  and 
Mason  had  in  view  in  sending  colonists  to  this  state  were 
never  realized.  No  vast  mineral  treasures  were  found  ;  no 
flourishing  vineyards  enlivened  the  landscape.  After  years 
of  toil,  after  expending  vast  sums  of  money,  they  had  failed 
to  accomplish  what  they  desired  and  hoped ;  but  they  laid 
the  foundations  on  which  others  built;  they  sowed  the 
seed  while-  others  reaped  the  harvest.  And,  though  we 
may  perhaps  regard  them  as  having  mistaken  views  of  the 
true  sources  of  national  prosperity,  we  cannot  too  much 
honor  the  memory  of  the  mcrchimt  adventurers  who  labored 
so  long  and  so  perseveringly  to  colonize  the  infant  state. 


CHAPTER    II. 

Religious  Intolerance.  —  Antinomian  Controversy. — Banishment  of  Wheel- 
wright. —  Settlement  of  Exeter.  —  Formation  of  a  Government.  —  Settle- 
ment of  Hampton. —  Affairs  on  the  Piscataqua. — Wiggin  visits  England. 
—  Erection  of  a  Church.  —  Eurdet's  Exploits. — Morton  abandons  Ports- 
mouth.—  Underhill's  Administration.  —  Knollys  and  Larkham. — Dover 
and  Portsmouth  form  Governments.  —  Union  with  Massachusetts.  — 
Wheelwright  flees.  —  Laws  of  Massachusetts  and  Character  of  the  early  Set- 
tlers. —  Persecution  of  the  Quakers.  — Witchcraft. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Massachusetts  had  been  drir- 
en  from  then*  native  land  by  the  intolerance  of  their  rulers ; 
but,  when  they  were  once  freed  from  their  depressed  situa- 
tion and  placed  in  authority,  they  allowed  no  such  liberty 
to  others  as  they  had  claimed  for  themselves.  Indeed 
they  did  not  seem  to  understand  the  true  principles  of  re- 
ligious freedom.  Believing  themselves  to  have  attained 
perfect  truth,  they  could  see  nothing  but  error  in  the  creeds 
of  all  who  differed  from  them  in  opinion ;  and  this  they 
could  not  conscientiously  tolerate.  The  strong  arm  of  the 
law  was  invoked  to  check  the  spread  of  doctrines  which 
they  believed  would  be  dangerous  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  state.  It  was  this  spirit  —  the  fault  of  the  times  rather 
than  of  the  men  themselves — that  drove  "Wheelwright,  al- 
ready mentioned  as  having  purchased  land  of  the  Indians 
at  Swampscot  Falls,  to  establish  a  new  settlement.  He  be- 
longed to  a  party  of  the  church  called  Antinomians,  and 
for  a  time  was  engaged  in  a  very  bitter  and  violent  contest, 

(16) 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  17 

in  which  the  principal  men  of  the  colony  participated  ;  but 
being  at  length  overpowered,  he,  with  several  others,  was 
banished  from  the  territory  of  Massachusetts.  At  the  time 
of  making  liis  purchase  he  stipulated  that  a  settlement 
should  be  commenced  within  ten  years ;  and,  as  this  time 
was  drawing  to  a  close,  he  proceeded  at  once  to  establish  a 
colony  at  Exeter.  This  was  in  1638.  As  there  was  no 
general  government  in  New  Hampshire  to  which  they 
could  appeal  for  protection,  they  formed  an  independent 
system  of  their  own.  Their  laws  were  based  on  the  Bible. 
They  had  one  chief  magistrate  and  two  assistants,  chosen  in 
an  assembly  of  the  people,  and  holding  their  offices  one 
year.  They  were  sworn  to  discharge  their  duty  faithfully, 
while  the  people  were  sworn  to  obedience.  The  laws  were 
enacted  in  a  general  assembly ;  and  in  fact  the  whole  organ- 
ization presents  an  example  of  a  purely  democratic  form  of 
government. 

About  this  time  the  Massachusetts  colony  empowered 
Richard  Dumnier  and  John  Spencer  to  commence  improve- 
ments and  to  build  a  house  at  Hampton,  called  by  the  In- 
dians Winnicummet.  What  they  most  valued  was  an  ex- 
tensive salt  marsh,  which  bade  fair  to  produce  a  supply  of 
hay  for  their  cattle.  Soon  after  some  persons  from  Norfolk 
county,  England,  had  leave  to  settle  here.  The  whole 
number  was  now  fifty-six.  The  house  first  erected  was 
long  known  as  the  Bound  House. 

We  must  go  back  a  little  in  the  order  of  time  to  relate 
the  condition  of  affairs  on  the  Piscataqua.  Portsmouth, 
having  by  the  death  of  Mason  lost  her  principal  patron, 
was  struggUng  with  difficulties.  Nor  was  Dover  entirely 
exempt  from  discouragements.  In  1633  Captain  Wiggin, 
the  agent  of  the  latter  plantation,  visited  England  to  obtain 
new  supplies.  On  returning,  he  brought  with  him  from 
o  * 


18  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

the  west  of  that  country  several  families  of  considerable 
property  and  "  of  some  account  for  religion."  Among 
the  number  was  William  Leveridge,  a  pious  and  devoted 
clergyman.  They  proceeded  to  lay  out  a  compact  town  on 
Dover  neck,  trade  being  their  principal  object.  On  an  in- 
viting part  of  the  eminence  they  erected  a  church,  which 
for  greater  security  they  surrounded  with  an  intrenchment 
and  flankarts  ;  but,  on  account  of  insufficient  support,  Lev- 
eridge  was  compelled  to  seek  a  more  favorable  locality. 
After  this  they  had  a  number  of  ministers,  some  of  whom 
proved  unworthy  of  their  high  calling.  The  first  of  ihese 
was  one  Burdet,  who  came  among  them  in  1634.  He  was 
at  length  elected  governor,  to  the  exclusion  of  Wiggin ; 
but,  being  detected  in  some  criminal  acts,  he  made  a  precip- 
itate flight  to  the  Province  of  Maine,  whence  he  never  re- 
turned. 

After  the  death  of  Mason,  his  widow  and  executrix  sent 
over  "William  Norton  as  her  agent,  with  full  jDOwer  to  man- 
age her  affairs  at  the  Portsmouth  plantation ;  but  after  re- 
siding there  some  time,  finding  the  expenses  far  exceeding 
the  income,  he  abandoned  the  whole  and  gave  up  the  im- 
provements to  the  tenants.  Some  removed,  carrying  pflF 
their  goods  and  chattels ;  wliile  others  remained,  claiming 
the  houses  and  other  property  as  their  own.  But  several 
of  the  buildings  had  been  destroyed  by  fire ;  so  that  at 
length  nothing  remained  for  the  heirs  of  Mason  excepting 
their  interest  in  the  soil.  These  events  took  place  between 
1638  and  1644. 

Captain  John  Underbill  was  banished  from  Boston  during 
the  Antinomian  controversy,  and  took  refuge  at  Dover. 
Having  been  elected  governor  in  place  of  Burdet,  he  formed 
a  church,  and  placed  one  Knollys  over  it.  Afterwards 
Thomas  Larkham  came  and  preached,  and  by  his  superior 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  19 

eloquence  gained  the  favor  of  the  people,  so  that  they  chose 
him  as  their  minister  in  place  of  KnoUys ;  but,  as  he  ad- 
mitted persons  of  immoral  character  to  the  church,  and  also 
assumed  civil  authority,  they  restored  Knollys.  Dissen- 
sions and  strife  arose  between  them,  and  finally  Knollys 
returned  to  England ;  while  Underbill  went  back  to  Boston, 
and,  on  making  a  confession,  was  restored  to  favor. 

The  people  of  Dover  and  Portsmouth  had  as  yet  no  set- 
tled form  of  government,  having  no  authority  from  the 
crown  to  form  one.  It  will  be  .recollected  that  the  first 
settlements  were  mere  private  enterprises  managed  by 
agents  ;  but,  finding  this  system  insufficient  to  meet  their 
present  wants,  they  formed  a  combination  at  each  of  these 
places  like  that  at  Exeter.  At  Dover,  in  1640,  a  written 
instrument  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  forty-one  persons, 
agreeing  to  abide  by  the  laws  of  England  and  those  enacted 
by  a  majority  of  their  own  number  until  they  should  learn 
the  royal  pleasure.  The  exact  time  at  which  a  similar  ar- 
rangement was  entered  upon  at  Portsmouth  is  unknown. 

We  have  thus  briefly  traced  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
first  four  settlements  made  within  the  present  limits  of  New 
Hampshire.  Each  was  independent  of  the  other,  there  be- 
ing no  union  between  them  save  that  arising  from  similar 
circumstances  and  common  dangers.  At  length  a  proposal 
was  made  to  unite  with  Massachusetts.  To  this  the  lattei 
colony  Avas  by  no  means  averse.  Indeed  they  already  laid 
claim  to  a  great  part  of  the  territory  of  New  Hampshire, 
though  they  had  never  tried  to  enforce  it.  Accordingly 
Portsmouth  and  Dover  put  themselves  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Massachusetts  in  1641 ;  and  Exeter  did  the  same 
about  one  year  later.  Hampton  was  considered  as  a  part 
of  that  colony  already.  Wheelwright,  being  still  under 
sentence  of  banishment,  removed  with  some  of  his  foUow- 


20  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

eis  to  Wells,  (Maine,)  but  was  afterwards  restored  or 
making  some  slight  acknowledgment.  He  subsequently 
preached  at  Hampton. 

On  consummating  this  union  the  people  of  New  Hamp- 
shire were  allowed  one  remarkable  privilege,  considering 
the  intolerance  so  prevalent  at  that  time — which  was,  tha/ 
they  might  act  in  a  public  capacity  without  regard  to  thei," 
religious  professions ;  though  by  a  previous  law  of  Massa 
chusetts  none  but  church  members  could  vote  on  town  af 
fairs  or  hold  a  seat  in  the  General  Court. 

For  thirty-eight  years,  from  1641  to  1679,  the  history 
of  New  Hampshire  becomes  merged  in  that  of  the  colony 
of  which  she  became  a  constituent  part. 

The  laws  of  Massachusetts,  which  now  took  effect  in  our 
own  state,  were  in  many  respects  peculiar.  Their  social 
customs,  too,  were  modified  by  their  religious  belief  and  by 
the  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed.  Inhabiting 
a  new  country,  surrounded  by  a  fierce  and  deadly  foe,  com- 
pelled to  labor  with  all  their  poAver  to  supply  their  wants 
and  to  'protect  themselves  from  danger,  they  had  but  little 
inclination  or  opportunity  to  cultivate  the  :nilder  graces 
and  refinements  of  life.  Every  thing  that  had  the  appear- 
ance of  levity  was  discarded.  Their  general  design  was  to 
form  a  government  with  laws  based  on  the  Bible,  and  mod- 
elled, to  a  considerable  extent,  after  the  Jewish  common- 
wealth. Their  laws  had  reference  to  many  things  not 
usually  regarded  as  coming  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
civil  magistrate.  To  quote  Dr.  Belknap,*  "  The  drinking 
of  healths  and  the  use  of  tobacco  were -forbidden  j  the  for- 
mer being  considered  as  a  heathenish  and  idolatrous  practice, 
grounded  on  the  ancient  libations,  the  other  as  a  species  of 

♦  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  i.  p.  67. 
# 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  21 

intoxication  and  waste  of  time.  Laws  were  instituted  to 
regulate  the  intercourse  between  the  sexes  and  the  advances 
towards  matrimony.  They  had  a  ceremony  of  betrothing 
which  preceded  that  of  marriage.  Pride  and  levity  of  be- 
havior came  under  the  cognizance  of  the  magistrate.  Not 
only  the  richness,  but  the  mode  of  dress  and  cut  of  the  hair, 
were  subject  to  state  regulations.  Women  were  forbidden 
to  expose  their  arms  or  bosoms  to  view.  It  was  ordered 
that  their  sleeves  should  reach  down  to  their  wrist  and  their 
gowns  be  closed  around  the  neck.  Men  were  obliged  to 
cut  short  their  hair,  that  they  might  not  resemble  women. 
No  person  not  worth  two  hundred  pounds  was  alloAved  to 
wear  gold  or  silver  lace  or  silk  hoods  and  scarfs.  These 
pious  rulers  had  more  in  view  than  the  political  good. 
They  were  not  only  concerned  for  the  external  appearance 
of  sobriety  and  good  order,  but  thought  themselves  obliged, 
so  far  as  they  were  able,  to  promote  real  religion  and  en- 
force the  observance  of  the  divine  precepts." 

But,  notwithstanding  some  gloomy  and  forbidding  traits, 
there  is  much  in  the  character  of  the  Puritans  to  command 
our  admiration  —  much  that  is  Avorthy  of  our  approval  and 
emulation.  None  could  be  more  conscientious  than  they 
in  the  performance  of  what  they  regarded  as  duty.  Their 
morals  were  of  a  high  order.  Intemperance  and  profanity 
were  almost  unknown.  They  early  attended  to  the  educa- 
tion of  their  youth,  and  for  this  purpose  founded  a  college 
at  Cambridge  within  a  few  years  after  their  first  settlement. 
They  purchased  land  of  the  Indians  which  had  already  been 
granted  by  the  crown.  They  regarded  slavery  as  inconsist- 
ent with  the  natural  rights  of  mankind,  and  by  law  forbade 
the  buying  and  selling  of  slaves  excepting  those  taken  in 
war  or  reduced  to  this   condition  for  crime.     In  1645  the 


22  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

General  Court  ordered  a  negro  who  had  been  kidnapped 
from  Africa  and  sold  at  Portsmouth  to  be  sent  back. 

But  their  great  error  was  in  confounding  ci"sdl  and  reli- 
gious authority  —  a  fact  to  which  we  have  already  alluded. 
Their  ministers  took  part  in  the  public  assemblies,  while 
the  civil  magistrates  had  a  controlling  voice  in  the  churches. 
Toleration  was  regarded  as  "  the  firstborn  of  all  abomina- 
tions ;  "  and  the  right  of  the  magistrate  to  employ  force 
against  heretics  and  unbelievers  was  strongly  insisted  on. 
The  Quakers  especially  suffered  the  weight  of  their  ven- 
geance. At  first  they  were  banished  ;  but  this  punishment 
proving  insufficient  to  check  them,  they  were  whipped,  im- 
prisoned, and  in  some  instances  put  to  death.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1662  three  Quaker  women  were  sentenced  to  be 
publicly  whipped  through  eleven  towns,  with  ten  stripes 
apiece  in  each  town.  The  sentence  was  executed  in  Dover, 
Hampton,  and  SaHsbury ;  but  at  the  latter  place  they  were 
fortunately  released  through  the  agency  of  Walter  Bare- 
foot. 

The  witchcraft  delusion  prevailed  to  some  extent  in  New 
Hampshire.  There  is  still  on  record  an  account  of  the  trial 
of  "Goodwife  Walford "  at  Portsmouth  in  1658.  The 
complainant,  Susannah  Trimmings,  testified  as  follows :  * 
*'  As  I  was  going  home  on  Sunday  night  I  heard  a  rustling 
in  the  Avoods,  which  I  supposed  to  be  occasioned  by  swine  ; 
and  presently  there  appeared  a  woman,  whom  I  apprehend- 
ed to  be  old  Goodwife  Walford.  She  asked  me  to  lend 
her  a  pound  of  cotton.  I  told  her  I  had  but  two  pounds 
in  the  house,  and  I  would  not  spare  any  to  my  mother. 
She  said  I  had  better  have  done  it,  for  I  was  going  a  great 
journey,  but  should  never  come  there.     She  then  left  me, 

*  Adams's  Annals  of  Portsmouth. 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCH.  28 

and  I  was  struck,  as  with  a  clap  of  fire,  on  the  back ;  and 
she  vanished  towards  the  water  side,  in  my  apprehension,  in 
the  shape  of  a  cat.  She  had  on  her  head  a  white  linen 
hood,  tied  under  her  chin ;  and  her  waistcoat  and  petticoat 
were  red,  with  an  old  gown,  apron,  and  a  black  hat  upon 
her  head."  Several  other  witnesses  were  examined ;  but 
the  case  was  not  then  decided,  and  was  probably  droi^ped 
at  the  next  term  of  the  court.  Mrs.  Walford  afterwards 
brought  an  action  for  slander  against  Robert  Coutch  for 
saying  that  she  was  a  witch  and  he  could  prove  her  one. 
The  verdict  was  in  her  favor — five  pounds  and  costs.  These 
trials  arc  curious  as  illustra|ing  the  spirit  of  the  times,  as 
well  as  the  kind  of  evidence  on  the  strength  of  which  the 
accused  were  often  condemned.  Some  other  cases  occurred 
in  New  Hampshire ;  but  none  were  ever  convicted. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Mason's  Efforts  to  recover  his  Estate.  —  The  King  sends  Commissioners  to 
New  England.  —  Their  Reception,  Treatment,  and  Proceedings.  —  Jealousy 
of  the  Indians.  —  Passaconnaway.  —  Commencement  of  King  Philip's  War. 
—  Attacks  on  various  Places.  —  Death  of  Lieutenant  Plaisted.  —  The  In- 
dians make  Peace.  —  Death  of  King  Philip,  and  Renewal  of  Hostilities  at 
the  East.  —  Waldron  seizes  the  Refugees  at  Dover.  —  The  Mohawks  are  so- 
licited to  assist  the  English.  —  Captain  Swett  is  defeated.  —  Conclusion  of 
Peace.  —  Omens. 

The  civil  dissensions  that  prevailed  in  England  at  this 
time  prevented  the  making  of  any  determined  efforts  by  the 
heirs  of  Mason  to  recover  the  possession  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire plantations.  In  1652  Joseph  Mason  came  over  to  look 
after  the  interests  of  the  family,  and  commenced  an  action 
against  Kichard  Leader,  who  was  occupying  some  of  the 
lands  at  Newichwannock.  The  case  Avas  finally  brought 
before  the  General  Court,  which  caused  a  survey  to  be 
made.  By  this  it  was  found  that  the  charter  of  Massachu- 
setts included  all  that  had  been  granted  to  Mason  and 
nearly  all  that  hud  been  granted  to  Gorges.  The  court 
decided  that  "  some  lands  at  Newichwannock,  with  the  riv- 
er, were,  by  agreement  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  oth- 
ers, apportioned  to  Captain  Mason,  and  that  he  also  had 
right  by  purchase  of  the  'Indians,  as  also  by  possession  and 
improvement."  The  agent  left  soon  after,  making  no  effort 
to  recover  the  rest  of  the  estate. 

(24) 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  25 

The  first  heir  named  in  Mason's  will  died  in  infancy ;  and 
Bobert  Tufton,  grandson  of  Captain  John  Mason,  succeed- 
ed to  the  inheritance.  The  family  had  always  been  at- 
tached to  the  royal  cause,  and  consequently  had  nothing  to 
hope  for  during  the  protectorate  of  Cromwell.  But  on  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.,  Tufton,  Avho  now  took  the  sur- 
name of  Mason,  petitioned  the  crown  for  redress.  The 
king  referred  the  matter  to  his  attorney  general.  Sir  Geof- 
fry  Palmer,  who  reported  that  Mason  had  a  legal  title  to 
New  Hampshire.  Here  the  matter  rested  for  some  time  ; 
but  in  KxG-i  the  king  appointed  four  commissioners  to  visit 
the  New  England  colonies  and  to  examine  and  determine 
all  matters  of  dispute.  This  was  very  offensive  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Massachusetts,  as  they  regarded  it  as  interferlng'tvith 
their  liberties ;  and  accordingly  they  received  the  commis- 
sioners with  great  coldness.  The  latter,  in  their  progress 
through  the  country,  came  to  Portsmouth,  but  mad^  no 
settlement  of  the  controversy.  They  told  the  citizens  of 
that  place  that  they  would  release  them  from  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Massachusetts,  and  took  some  measures  to  bring 
about  such  a  result ;  but  most  of  the  people  preferred  to  re- 
main as  they  were.  The  commissioners  returned,  greatly 
incensed  at  the  treatment  they  had  received.  For  some 
time  after  this  the  foreign  affairs  of  England  so  engrossed 
the  attention  of  the  royal  government  that  they  took  no 
further  action  in  regard  to  the  claims  of  Mason. 

But  now  a  greater  danger  threatened  the  colonies  — 
which  was  an  attack  from  the  Indians.  For  many  years  the 
natives  had  been  watching  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
infant  states  with  feelings  of  stifled  jealousy.  They  saw 
their  best  hunting  grounds  encroached  upon  day  by  day ; 
they  saw  their  new  neighbors  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers 
3 


26  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

and  wealth ;  until  it  became  evident  that  the  white  man,  if 
not  speedily  checked,  would  become  the  sole  possessor  of 
the  land  which  had  been  theirs  from  time  immemorial.  But 
for  a  time  fear  kept  them  in '  restraint.  An  English  gen- 
tleman who  was  present .  gives  an  account  of  a  dance  and 
feast  held  by  the  Pennacooks  in  1660.  The  aged  Passa- 
connaway,  famed  far  and  wide  for  his  wisdom  and  cunning, 
reputed  as  a  sorcerer,  with  power  to  make  water  burn  and 
trees  dance,  was  present,  and  made  his  farewell  speech,  ad- 
vising them  to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  the  English.  He 
warned  them  that  it  would  prove  their  o^wn  ruin  should 
they  take  a  contrary  course.  His  counsels  had  so  much 
effect  that  his  son  and  successor,  Wonolanset,  on  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  fifteen  years  afterwards,  withdrew  to  a 
remote  part  of  the  country  to  aA'oid  being  da-awn  into  the 
quarrel. 

Pliilip,  of  Mount  Hope,  son  of  the  "  good  Massasoit,"  is 
commonly  regarded  as  the  instigator  of  this  first  general 
war;  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  drew  manj-  of  th.e  neighbor- 
ing tribes  into  a  combination  to  exterminate  the  English. 
The  first  attack  was  made  on  Swansey,*  in  June,  1675. 

The  eastern  Indians  had  some  causes  of  their  own  to  im- 
pel them  to  war.  The  wife  of  Squando,  a  noted  sachem 
dwelling  at  Saco,  was  one  day  met  by  some  sailors  Avhile 
passing  along  the  river  in  her  canoe  with  her  infint  child. 
They  had  heard  that  the  Indian  children  could  swim  as 
naturally  as  the  young  of  beasts,  and  overset  the  canoe  to 
try  the  experiment.  The  child  was  rescued  by  the  mother, 
but  died  soon  after,  and  its  death  was  imputed  to  the  treat- 
ment it  had  received.  Squando  now  became  a  most  bitter 
foe  of  the  English,  and  used  all  his  influence  to  excite  a 

*  Bristol  county,  Massachusetts. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  21 

war  against  them.  After  the  commencement  of  hostilities 
at  Swanscy  the  war  spread  to  other  parts  of  the  country. 
In  September  of  the  same  year  they  made  an  incursion 
against  Oyster  llivcr,  now  Durham,  where  they  burned 
two  houses,  killed  two  men,  and  carried  away.two  captives. 
They  also  killed  one  man,  and  took  another  prisoner,  be- 
tween Exeter  and  Hampton.  Soon  after  they  attacked  a 
house  at  Newichwannock  in  which  fifteen  women  and  chil- 
dren had  taken  refuge  ;  but  a  girl  of  eighteen  saw  them 
approaching,  and  stood  against  the  door  until  they  chopped 
it  down  with  their  hatchets.  In  the  mean  time  all  but  two 
children  escaped  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  bold  heroine 
was  knocked  down  and  left  for  dead,  but  finally  recovered. 
The  enemy  now  made  their  appearance  on  both  sraes  of 
the  Piscataqua,  burning  houses  and  killing  all  ^\  ho  fell  in 
their  way.  Some  young  men  of  Dover  took  the  licld 
against  them  and  succeeded  in  killing  two.  All  the  Ifettle- 
ments  of  New  Hampshire  were  now  filled  with  alarm,  and 
business  was  suspended.  On  the  16th  of  October  an  at- 
tack was  made  on  Salmon  Falls.  Lieutenant  Roger  Plais- 
ted  sent  out  seven  men  to  search  for  the  enemy ;  but,  foil- 
ing into  an  ambush,  three  were  instantly  killed,  and  the 
rest  retreated.  Plaisted  then  sent  to  Major  Waldron  for 
assistance,  which  the  latter  could  not  grant  consistently 
with  his  own  safety.  The  next  day  he  ventured  out  with 
twenty  men  and  a  cart  to  bring  in  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
slain ;  but,  falHng  into  another  ambush,  his  men  deserted 
him.  Plaisted  himself,  disdaining  to  yield  or  fly,  was  slain 
with  one  of  his  sons,  while  another  son  was  mortally  wound- 
ed. The  gallant  behavior  of  these  men  caused  the  Indians 
to  retreat. 

The   enemy  still  continued  their  predatory  incursions^ 


28  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

plundering  and  burning  wherever  they  found  the  people 
off  their  guard.  They  made  their  appearance  opposite 
Portsmouth,  but  were  dispersed  by  a  few  cannon  shot. 
In  this  way  the  autumn  was  passed  until  the  close  of 
November,  when  the  whole  number  of  the  slain  exceeded 
fifty. 

The  Massachusetts  colony,  being  fully  occupied  in  de- 
fending their  southern  and  western  borders,  could  afford  no 
seasonable  aid.  Finding  the  necessity  of  vigorous  action, 
the  colony  resolved  to  send  a  force  against  the  head  quar- 
ters of  the  enemy  ;  but  the  winter,  setting  in  early  and 
with  great  severity,  prevented.  But  this  circumstance  in- 
clined the  Indians  to  peace,  as  they  were  now  pinched  with 
famflBH*"  Accordingly  they  came  to  Major  Waldron,  ex- 
pressing their  sorrow  for  what  had  been  done  and  promis- 
ing j^  be  quiet  and  friendly.  Through  his  influence  a 
peac^was  concluded  with  the  eastern  Indians,  which  con- 
tinued until  the  next  August.  The  captives 'which  they 
had  taken  were  restored. 

In  August,  1676,  King  Philip  was  slain,  which  put  an 
end  to  the  war  in  the  southern  quarter.  Some  of  his  fol- 
lowers took  refuge  among  the  Pennacooks,  others  with  the 
eastern  Indians  —  the  Ossipees  and  Pequaketts.  Hostili- 
ties were  renewed  through  the  influence  of  these  refugees, 
and  at  length  two  companies  were  sent  from  Boston  to  Do- 
ver. Here  they  found  a  large  number  of  Indians  at  the 
house  of  Major  Waldron,  whom  they  regarded  as  their 
friend  and  father.  The  Boston  companies  had  orders  to 
seize  all  Indians  who  had  been  engaged  in  King  Philip's 
war,  and,  recognizing  such  among  the  number,  would  have 
fallen  upon  them  at  once  had  they  not  been  dissuaded  by 
Major  Waldron,  who  proposed  to  have  a  training  and  sham 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  29 

fight  the  next  day  in  order  to  take  them  by  stratagem. 
This  having  been  done,  they  were  all  seized  and  disarmed. 
A  separation  was  then  made ;  the  Pennacooks  and  those 
who  had  made  peace  the  autumn  before  were  set  at  liberty ; 
while  the  refugees  —  the  strange  Indians,  as  they  were 
called  —  were  retained  as  prisoners  to  the  number  of  two 
hundred.  Seven  or  eight  who  were  convicted  of  having 
killed  Englishmen  were  executed.  The  rest  were  sold  into 
slavery  in  foreign  parts.  After  this  two  or  three  expedi- 
tions were  made  into  the  wilderness,  but  without  producing 
any  important  results. 

In  1677  an  effort  was  made  to  induce  the  Mohawks  to 
take  part  against  the  eastern  Indians.  But  they  made  no 
distinction  between  the  friendly  and  hostile  t]-il)^^"knd 
consequently  they  did  more  harm  than  good  to  the  ]^^sh. 
In  June  of  the  same  year.  Captain  Swett,  of  H^^Bon, 
went  to  the  Kennebeck  River  with  two  hundred  ^Jlian 
and  forty  English  soldiers,  but  was  defeated  and  slain  with 
many  of  his  men.  The  savages  then  took  some  twenty 
fishing  vessels,  the  crews  not  apprehending  any  danger.  In 
the  month  of  August,  Andros,  the  governor  of  New  York, 
sent  a  sloop  with  some  forces  to  build  a  fort  at  Pemaquid. 
The  Indians  then  appeared  friendly,  and  continued  peacea- 
ble during  the  autumn  and  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1678 
three  commissioners  were  appointed  to  treat  with  Squando 
and  the  other  chiefs  of  the  eastern  tribes.  A  treaty  was 
concluded  at  Casco,  now  Portland,  which  put  an  end  to 
this  harassing  war  of  three  years'  duration,  of  which  the 
whole  burden  and  expense  were  borne  by  the  colonies 
themselves.  They  neither  asked  nor  received  any  assist- 
ance from  the  royal  government. 

The  historians  of  that  day  have  recorded  many  signs, 
3* 


30  KEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

omens,  and  predictions.  Some  imagined  they  heard  guns 
and  drums  in  the  air ;  others  saw  fiery  swords  and  spears 
in  the  heavens.  Even  an  eclipse  was  regarded  as  the  fore- 
runner of  some  great  event ;  and,  in  short,  every  unusual 
appearance  was  considered  as  ominous.  All  this  doubtless 
resulted  from  superstitious  fear  as  well  as  from  ignorance 
of  the  laws  of  Nature. 


f 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Mason's  renewed  Efforts. — Randolph  visits  New  England.  —  New  Hampshire 
is  erected  into  a  ro)'al  Province.  — The  Commission  is  published.  —  Meeting 
of  the  Assembly  and  making  Laws.  —  Waldron  succeeds  President  Cutts.  — 
Cranficld  is  appointed  Governor.  —  Plis  arbitrary  Proceeding.  —  Gove's  Re- 
bellion. —  Mason  institutes  a  Suit  against  Major  Waldron.  —  Weare  is  sent 
to  England. — Persecution  of  Moody.  —  Fresh  Usurpations  of  Power. — 
Resistance  of  the  People.  —  Cranfield  obtains  Leave  of  Absence,  —j^j^f^pot 
succeeds  him.  —  Treaty  with  the  Indians. 


1 


While  the  colonists  were  engaged  in  the  India^Bar 
Mason  again  petitioned  the  king  for  redress.  Sir  WSHm 
Jones,  his  attorney  general,  and  Sir  Francis  Winnington, 
his  solicitor  general,  to  whom  he  referred  the  matter,  re- 
ported that  Mason  ''had  a  good  and  legal  title  to  the 
lands."  This  was  in  1675.  Edward  Randolph  was  then 
sent  over  to  make  inquiry  into  the  state  of  the  country. 
He  reported  on  his  return  that  he  found  the  whole  country 
complaining  of  the  usurpation  of  the  magistrates  of  Boston, 
though  the  people  both  of  Dover  and  Portsmouth  had  pe- 
titioned that  they  might  "  continue  in  possession  of  their 

•rights  lender  the  government  of  Massachusetts."     The  l^t-1; 

■^  colony  sent  two  agents  to  defend  their,  claims.  Aft(5Mr 
RHl  hearing  before  the  lords  chief  justices  of  the  King's 
Bench  and  Common  Pleas,  in  1677,  it  was  decided  that 
Massachusetts  had  no  right  of  jurisdiction  over  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  that  the  four  towns  —  Portsmouth,  Dover,  Exe- 
ter, and  Hampton  —  did  not  belong  to  the  former  colony. 


353  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

They  also  denied  the  right  of  go^^ernment  to  Mason.  No 
opinion  was  given  as  to  the  right  of  the  soil,  there  being 
no  court  in  Ensjland  that  had  cognizance  of  it. 

All  this  paved  the  way  to  a  separation  from  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  accordingly,  in  1679,  a  commission  Wis  issued, 
forming  New  Plampshire  into  a  royal  province.  The  gov- 
ernment was  to  be  administered  by  a  president  and  council 
appointed  by  the  king.  Laws  were  to  be  enacted  by  an  as- 
sembly of  representatives  chosen  by  the  people.  The  pres- 
ident was  required  to  appoint  a  deputy  to  succeed  him  in 
case  of  his  death  or  absence.  The  king  reserved  the  right 
to  discontinue  the  assembly  of  the  people  if  inconvenience 
should  arise  therefrom.  The  form  of  government  was  sim- 
p^H^i,  with  this  exception,  as  liberal  as  could  have  been 

Tnus  a  union  that  had  subsisted  for  thirty-eight  years 
wa|pdissolved,  to  the  great  regret  of  the  people  of  New 
Hampshire,  being  satisfied  as  they  were  with  the  govern- 
ment which  they  already  enjoyed.  In  order  to  make  the 
change  more  acceptable,  the  king  appointed  some  of  the 
most  popular  men  of  the  colony  to  office.  The  president, 
John  Cutts,  was  a  highly-esteemed  merchant  of  Ports- 
mouth. William  Vaughan,  John  Gilman,  and  Richard 
Waldron  were  of  the  council. 

The  royal  commission  was  brought  to  Portsmouth  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1680.  The  persons  therein  named  accept- 
ed their  offices  with  great  reluctance,  and  only  through  fear 
/^t,  if  they  refused,  others  might  be  appointed  wh<f  avou 
not  regard  the  interests  of  the  colony.  They  publis! 
the  commission  and  took  the  oaths  of  office  on  the  2!2d 
January.  They  issued  writs  calling  an  assembly,  which 
met  on  the  16th  of  March.  At  the  time  of  this  election 
there  were  two  hundred  and  nine  voters  in  the  four  towns. 


^% 


m 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  SS 

The  assembly  immediately  returned  thanks  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts colony  for  their  former  protection,  and  expressed 
their  regret  for  the  separation.  They  then  proceeded  to 
form  a  code  of  laws.  Among  the  capital  offences,  which 
were  fifteen  in  number,  were  reckoned  idolatry,  blasphemy, 
man  stealing,  treason,  and  witchcraft.  The  president  and 
council,  with  the  assembly,  constituted  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  tliree  inferior  courts  were  formed.  The  militia  was 
organized  and  put  under  the  command  of  Richard  Wal- 
dron. 

The  enforcement  of  the  acts  of  trade  and  navigation 
caused  some  difficulty.  Edward  Randolph  was  appointed 
surveyor  and  collector  of  the  customs  throughout  Ngw 
England.  He  sometimes  acted  in  a  violent  and  ar 
manner ;  while  the  people,  on  their  part,  most  strenu! 
resisted  any  assumption  of  authority.  In  the  executio 
his  commission  he  seized  a  ketch  belonging  to  Portsmo 
and,  having  been  brought  before  the  council  on  complaint 
of  the  master  of  it,  he  behaved  with  such  insolence  that  the 
court  compelled  him  to  make  a  public  apology  and  ask  for 
pardon.  His  deputy,  Walter  Barefoot,  was  fined  ten 
pounds  for  his  arbitrary  proceedings  in  the  matter. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1680  M^son  came  from  England, 
empowered  by  the  king  to  take  a  seat  in  the  council.  He 
soon  endeavored  to  compel  the  people  to  take  leases  of 
him  ;  but  the  council  to  which  they  appealed  for  protection 
forbade  such  proceedings,  and  stated  their  intention  of 
transmitting  the  grievances  of  the  people  to  the  king.»^ 
After  this  he  refused  to  sit  in  the  council,  and  soon  re- 
turned to  England.  Meanwhile  President  Cutts  died,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  deputy.  Major  Waldron.  Under  his 
administration  affairs  went  on  much  as  before,    tjjt 

Mason,  finding  he  could  accomplish  nothing  under  the 


^ 


34  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT   IS, 

circumstances  then  existing,  labored  to  bring  about  a  change 
of  government ;  and  at  his  solicitation  the  king  appointed 
Edward  Cranfield  lieutenant  governor  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  New  Hampshire,  who  accepted  the  office  with  the 
hope  of  gain.  To  insure  this.  Mason  engaged  to  pay  him 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  annually,  and  mortgaged 
the  province  for  security.  By  his  commission,  which  was 
granted  in  May,  1682,  he  was  vested  with  new  and  extraor- 
dinary powers.  He  could  suspend  members  of  the  coun- 
cil, veto  laws  passed  by  the  assembly,  dissolve  the  same  at 
his  pleasure,  erect  courts,  and  pardon  criminals.  He  soon 
showed  his  tyrannical  disposition  by  suspending  two  mem- 
bers of  the  council,  Waldron  and  Martyn,  but  restored 
thgHfen  the  meeting  of  the  assembly.  Hoping  to  concil- 
ia^BSm,  the  assembly  voted  him  a  present  of  two  hundred 
ad|Rifty  pounds.  But  his  good  humor  was  shortlived. 
Armhe  next  session  they  refused  to  pass  a  bill  which  he 
presented  them  for  the  support  of  the  government ;  and  he 
dissolved  the  assembly,  having  previously  suspended  Stile- 
man,  a  member  of  the  council. 

This  arbitrary  proceeding  excited  the  resentment  of  all 
the  people.  The  excitement  rose  to  such  a  pitch  that  sev- 
eral persons  of  Exeter  and  Hampton,  headed  by  Edward 
Gove,  a  member  of  the  dissolved  assembly,  declared  for 
**  liberty  and  reformation,"  and  endeavored  to  bring  about 
a  revolution.  But  the  project  was  so  rash  and  dangerous 
that  the  principal  men  not  only  discountenanced  it,  but 
also  aided  in  apprehending  Gove  and  his  followers.'  A 
court  was  immediately  held,  and  he,  with  several  others, 
was  convicted  of  treason.  All  but  Gove  were  soon  set  sit 
liberty.  He  was  sent  to  England,  imprisoned  in  the  Tower 
of  London.for  three  years,  when  he  was  pardoned  and  his 
estate  restored. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  35 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1683,  the  governor  called  on 
the  inhabitants  to  take  leases  of  Mason  within  one  month. 
This  they  refused  to  do ;  but  some  of  the  principal  land- 
holders proposed  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  governor,  that 
he  might  state  it  to  the  king.  Mason  objected  to  this,  say- 
ing he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  them  unless  they 
would  acknowledge  his  title. 

Cranfield  suspended  several  members  of  the  council,  and 
appointed  in  their  places  those  who  would  be  more  sub- 
servient to  his  own  wishes.  Things  being  thus  prepared. 
Mason  took  out  a  writ  against  Major  Waldron  for  holding 
lands  and  selling  timber  to  the  amount  of  four  thousand 
pounds.  The  latter  challenged  the  jury  as  interested  per- 
sons, some  having  taken  leases  of  Mason,  and  all  Hi 
upon  lands  which  he  claimed.  But  the  trial  went  on, 
judgment  was  rendered  against  the  defendant.  Suits  ^We 
instituted  against  others,  with  similar  results ;  but  as 
son  could  find  no  purchaser  of  the  lands,  and  was  unable 
to  keep  possession  of  them  himself,  they  continued  to  enjoy 
them  as  before. 

The  governor,  with  his  council,  had  now  usurped  the 
whole  legislative  power,  so  that  the  people  were  compelled 
to  make  a  stand  for  their  liberties.  Staving  raised  money 
by  subscription,  they  appointed  Nathaniel  Weare  to  make 
complaint  to  the  king. 

In  the  mean  time  Cranfield  was  disappointed  with  regard 
to  the  accumulation  of  wealth.  Having  abused  the  people 
so  much,  he  could  expect  nothing  from  their  favor.  He 
attempted  to  raise  money  by  pretending  fear  of  foi-eign  in- 
vasion ;  but  the  assembly  refused  to  pass  the  bill,  and  he 
•  again  dissolved  them. 

Mr.  Moody,  the  minister  of  Portsmouth,  being  a  strong 
advocate  of  the  cause  of  the  people,  was  the  object  of  his 


36  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

peculiar  vengeance.  Soon  after  the  dissolution  of  the  as- 
sembly, he  signified  to  Moody  his  intention  to  partake  of 
the  Lord's  supper  on  the  next  Sabbath,  and  required  him 
to  administer  it  according  to  the  liturgy.  As  Cranfield 
had  foreseen,  he  refused  to  do  so,  never  having  been  episco- 
pally  ordained.  An  action  was  commenced  against  him, 
and  he  was  sentenced  to  six  months'  imprisonment,  but  was 
released  at  the  end  of  three  weeks  on  condition  that  he 
should  preach  no  more  in  the  province.  He  went  to  Bos- 
ton and  remained  there  for  several  years,  but  afterwards 
returned  to  Portsmouth. 

Cranfield  now  undertook  to  tax  the  people  by  the  aid  of 
the  council  without  the  consent  of  the  assembly.  But  the 
council,  though  composed  principally  of  his  friends,  re- 
fuM|id  to  adopt  this  measure  until  the  rumor  of  a  plot  among 
thoi'^indians  to  renew  hostilities  in  the  spring  aroused  their 
fear^. 

Warrants  for  the  collection  of  the  taxes  were  issued  in 
the  summer  of  1684 ;  but  the  constables  every  where  en- 
countered great  opposition.  At  Exeter  forcible  resistance 
was  made  to  the  sheriff.*  Mason  ordered  out  the  troop  of 
horse  under  his  command  to  assist  in  enforcing  the  laws; 
but  not  a  man  appeared  on  the  day  appointed. 

The  agent  who  was  sent  to  England  had  been  waiting  a 
long  time  for  depositions  from  home.  Cranfield  retarded 
the  business  by  refusing  to  summon  and  swear  witnesses. 


*  "  History  wijl  justify  us  in  boasting  somewhat  of  Old  Exeter.  We  find 
her  people  ever  ready  to  resist  oppression  in  every  form.  When  the  royal  gov- 
ernor, Cranfield,  undertook  to  impose  taxes  on  the  people  of  New  Hampshire 
without  their  consent,  at  Exeter,  his  officers  who  were  sent  to  collect  the  tax 
were  beaten  off"  with  clubs  by  the  men,  and  attacked  by  the  women,  with  true 
Antinomian  spirit,  with  boiling  water,  whenever  they  attempted  to  enter  their 
houses."  —  Speech  of  Henry  C.  French,  Esq.,  at  the  "  Second  New  Ilampahirt 
Festival." 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  37 

and  also  by  denying  access  to  the  public  records.  Weare 
at  length  made  out  his  complaint  in  general  terms,  which 
was  referred  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  who  summoned  Cran 
field  to  make  his  defence.  When  the  evidence  was  all  pre- 
sented, new  articles  of  complaint  were  drawn  up.  After  a 
hearing,  their  lordships  made  a  report  censurhig  the  course 
of  Cranfield.  He  had  before  applied  for  leave  of  absence ; 
which  was  now  granted,  and  he  sailed  for  Jamaica.  Wal- 
ter Barefoot,  his  deputy,  succeeded  him,  and  continued  in 
office  until  superseded  by  Dudley  as  president  of  New  Eng- 
land. During  his  administration  a  treaty  of  friendship  was 
concluded  with  the  Pennacook  and  Saco  Indians.  Hagkins, 
a  chief  of  the  former  tribe,  having  heard  that  the  Mohawks 
were  coming  to  destroy  them,  besought  the  protection  of 
the  English.  It  was  stipulated  that  personal  injuries  -on 
either  side  should  be  redressed ;  that  information  of  approach- 
ing danger  from  enemies  should  be  given ;  that  the  Indians 
should  not  remove  without  giving  due  notice ;  and  that, 
while  these  articles  were  observed,  the  English  should 
assist  them  and  defend  them  against  the  Mohawks  and  all 
other  enemies.  The  peace  continued  about  four  years. 
4 


CHAPTER    V. 

The  Charter  of  Massachusetts  forfeited.  —  Dudley  appointed  President  of  New 
England.  —  Succeeded  by  Andros.  —  His  tyrannical  Proceedings.  —  Reyo- 
lution  in  England.  —  Temporary  Union  with  Massachusetts.  —  Allen  ap- 
pointed Governor  and  Usher  Lieutenant  Governor.  —  King  William's  War. 
—  Attack  on  Dover.  —  Salmon  Falls.  —  Expedition  to  Canada.  —  Tempora- 
ry Peace.  —  Attack  on  Oyster  River.  —  Conclusion  of  Peace.  —  Usher's  Ad- 
ministration. —  Partridge  supersedes  him.  —  The  Earl  of  Bellamont  is  ap- 
pointed Governor,  and  visits  New  Hampshire.  —  Allen's  Efforts.  —  Dudley 
appointed  Governor. 

k 

The  British  government  was  becoming  more  and  more 
oppressive  while  Charles  II.  occupied  the  throne.  Fre- 
quent complaints  of  the  New  England  colonies  were  made 
to  him,  to  which  he  gave  a  ready  ear,  even  then  fearing  the 
rising  spirit  of  liberty  which  existed  among  his  distant  sub- 
jects. Some  time  before  his  death  he  declared  the  charter 
of  Massachusetts  forfeited.  His  successor,  James  II.,  issued 
a  commission,  appointing  Joseph  Dudley  president  of  New 
England  —  thus  bringing  New  Hampshire  under  the  same 
government  with  Massachusetts.  He  managed  affairs  with 
comparative  moderation,  in  order  to  bring  the  new  system 
into  operation  without  exciting  the  resentment  of  the  people. 
But  in  a  few  months  he  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Edmund  An- 
dros as  captain  general  and  governor-in-chief  of  New  Eng- 
land. Andros  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
the  fairest  professions,  but  soon  showed  himself  a  rapacious 

tyrant.     He  appointed  only   such  to  the  council  as  were 

(38) 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  39 

willing  to  aid  him  in  his  oppressive  schemes.  The  liberty 
of  the  press  was  restricted.  The  people  were  allowed  to 
hold  a  town  meeting  only  once  a  year,  and  then  for  the 
choice  of  officers.  To  prevent  complaints  being  carried  to 
England,  he  forbade  any  one  to  leave  the  colony  without 
his  express  permission. 

While  the  colonies  were  suffering  such  oppression,  the 
report  of  a  revolution  in  England  reached  them.  William 
III.  ascended  the  throne  in  1688  ;  but,  before  the  news 
was  well  authenticated,  the  people  assembled  and  im- 
prisoned Andros.  A  committee  of  safety  was  organized 
to  assume  the  reins  of  government  until  they  should  re- 
ceive orders  from  England  Andros  was  sent  home  as  a 
prisoner. 

In  the  mean  time  t^.e  people  of  New  Hampshire  were 
left  without  a  government.  They  waited  for  orders  from 
the  mother  country,  but  none  came;  and  in  1690  they  held 
a  convention  of  deputies  chosen  from  each  town.  This 
assembly  petitioned  to  be  admitted  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  Massachusetts ;  which  was  granted,  and  delegates  were 
sent  to  the  General  Court  of  that  colony  for  two  or  three 
years.  Their  own  wish  was  to  become  a  constituent  part 
of  Massachusetts ;  but  the  king  refused  to  grant  a  charter 
to  that  effect. 

Mason  had  made  some  unsuccessful  attempts  to  recover 
his  estate  during  the  administration  of  Andros.  He  died 
in  1688,  leaving  two  sons,  John  and  Robert,  heirs  to  the 
claim.  They  afterAvards  sold  their  title  to  the  New  Hamp- 
shire lands  to  Samuel  Allen,  of  London,  who  soUcited  the 
king  for  a  commission  as  governor.  Notwithstanding  the 
desire  of  the  people  to  be  annexed  to  Massachusetts,  the 
king  gave  him  the  appointment,  with  John  Usher  as  his 


40  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

lieutenant,  with  power  to  act  in  his  absence.  TJsker  ar- 
rived and  entered  upon  his  duties  in  1692;. 

While  the  colony  was  suffering  the  embarrassment  at- 
tendant on  a  change  of  government  as  Avell  as  the  claims 
of  the  Masonian  proprietors,  a  fresh  war  with  the  Indians 
broke  out,  commonly  called  King  William's  war.  The 
Bai'on  de  St.  Castine,  a  French  nobleman,  had  chosen  the 
rude  life  of  an  Indian  trader,  and  was  now  living  at  Penob- 
scot. Being  connected  with  some  of  the  chiefs  by  mar- 
riage, he  had  great  influence  with  the  natives.  In  1688 
Andros  plundered  his  house  and  fort.  Justly  indignant 
at  this  base  act,  he  urged  the  Indians  to  war.  They,  too, 
had  some  real  or  supposed  injuries  £o  avenge ;  and  it 
proved  no  difficult  matter  to  arouse  a  sanguinaiy  conflict. 

Thirteen  years  had  passed  since  the  seizure  of  the  In- 
dians at  Dover ;  but  they  still  remembered  it,  and  longed 
for  vengeance.  Some  of  those  who  had  been  sold  into  sla- 
very had  returned  to  excite  their  brethren.  Wonolanset, 
however,  still  regarded  the  prophetic  injunction  of  his  fa- 
ther, and  kept  aloof  from  the  contest. 

The  first  outbreak  was  at  North  Yarmouth,  Maine, 
where  they  killed  some  cattle.  Several  were  takea  prison- 
ers ;  but  Andros,  hoping  to  conciliate  the  natives,  ordered 
them  to  be  set  at  liberty.  This  clemency  not  proving  ef- 
fectual, he  led  an  army  into  the  wilderness,  but  saw  no  In- 
dians. After  he  was  deposed,  those  who  managed  affairs 
tried  to  prevent  the  renewal  of  hostilities,  and  sent  messen- 
gers and  presents  for  this  purpose  ;  but,  though  the  savages 
made  fair  pi'omises,  they  were  ready  to  break  them  at  the 
first  opportunity. 

On  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  June,  1689,  two  squaws 
applied  at  each  of  the  garrisoned  houses  in  Dover  for  lodg- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  41 

ing.  The  people,  fearing  no  danger,  readily  admitted 
them.  jNIesandowit,  one  of  the  chiefs,  was  entertained  at 
Major  Waldron's.  *'  Brother  Waldron,"  said  he,  with  his 
usual  familiarity,  while  they  were  at  supper,  "what  would 
you  do  if  the  strange  Indians  should  come  ?  "  "I  can  as- 
semble a  hundred  men,"  was  the  reply,  "  by  lifting  up  my 
finger."  With  this  fital  confidence  they  retired  to  rest. 
When  all  was  quiet,  those  within  opened  the  gates  and 
gave  the  signal.  The  savages  rushed  in  and  began  their 
bloody  work.  Waldron,  though  eighty  years  of  age,  seized 
his  sword  and  drove  the  assailants  back  through  two  doors, 
but  was  stunned  by  a  blow  from  a  hatchet.  He  was  then 
put  to  death  with  the  most  cruel  tortures.  Twenty-three 
persons  were  killed  in  this  attack  and  twenty-nine  taken 
prisoners.  The  captives  were  carried  to  Canada  and  sold 
to  the  French. 

Several  expeditions  were  now  made  against  the  enemy, 
but  without  success — the  most  that  they  could  do  being  to 
destroy  their  corn.  In  the  winter  of  1690  the  Count  de 
Frontenac,  governor  of  Canada,  despatched  three  parties  to 
lay  waste  the  English  settlements.  One  party  attacked 
Salmon  Falls  ;  and,  though  the  inhabitants  fought  bravely, 
they  were  overpowered,  with  the  loss  of  thirty  killed  and 
fifty-four  prisoners.  Their  buildings  were  consumed,  with 
the  cattle  which  were  in  the  barns.  A  number  of  men  col- 
lected from  the  neighboring  towns  pursued  them.  A  sharp 
conflict  ensued ;  but  the  Indians,  having  the  advantage  of 
situation,  escaped. 

After  this  predatory  excursions  were  frequently  made. 
Some  were  killed  at  Newington  and  at  Exeter.  Two  com- 
panies which  were  out  scouting  came  up  with  the  enemy  at 
Wheelwright's  Pond,  in  Lee,  where  a  bloody  conflict  took 
4* 


42  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

place.     Fifteen  of  the  English,  including  Captain  Wiswal, 
were  killed,  and  several  wounded. 

The  colonies  now  resolved  to  make  an  expedition  against 
Canada,  which  was  regarded  as  the  source  of  their  troubles. 
In  1690  an  army  of  two  thousand  men  was  raised,  and  the 
command  given  to  Sir  William  Phipps  ;  but  they  did  not 
reach  the  vicinity  of  Quebec  until  October.  The  troops  be- 
came sickly  and  dispirited  ;  and  this,  in  connection  with  the 
lateness  of  the  season,  compelled  them  to  return  without 
having  accomplished  any  thing.  But  fortunately  the  In- 
dians desired  a  cessation  of  hostilities  ;  and  peace  continued 
until  the  next  summer,  when  they  attacked  AVells,  in 
Maine,  but  were  repulsed.  Soon  after  several  persons 
were  killed  at  Rye.  But  the  colonists  had  become  accus- 
tomed to  Indian  warfare,  and  were  well  prepared  for  de- 
fence. They  kept  out  ranging  parties  to  guard  their  fron- 
tiers and  save  them  from  surprisal.  This  kept  the  enemy 
so  much  in  subjection  that  but  little  mischief  was  done ; 
and  in  1693  they  sued  for  peace.  They  agreed  to  deliver 
up  all  their  captives,  to  become  subjects  of  the  English 
government,  and  to  observe  perpetual  peace.  They  might, 
perhaps,  have  kept  their  promises  ;  but  the  French  urged 
them  to  renew  the  war.  The  very  next  year,  Villicu,  who 
was  the  commander  at  Penobscot,  accompanied  by  a  French 
priest,  led  a  force  of  two  hundred  men  against  Oyster  Riv- 
er, then  a  part  of  'Dover,  but  noAv  Durham.  There  were 
twelve  garrisoned  houses,  of  which  five  were  destroyed  ; 
the  rest  were  successfully  defended.  Between  ninety  and 
one  hundred  persons  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  From 
this  time  until  1697  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire 
continued  to  suffer  from  the  incursions  of  their  savage  foe, 
though  but  few  events  occurred  worthy  of  note.  Among 
the  victims  was  the  widow  of  President  Cutts.     In  1696 


HISTORICAL    SKEICH.  43 

they  made  an  attack  at  Portsmouth  plain  and  killed  four- 
teen. 

After  peace  was  concluded  between  the  English  and 
French  governments,  Count  Frontenac  told  the  Indians 
that  he  could  no  longer  assist  them,  and  advised  them  to 
bury  the  hatchet  and  restore  the  captives.  They  hesitated 
for  a  time,  "but  finally  made  a  treaty  of  peace.  Most  of  the 
captives  were  restored.  Thus  terminated  this  distressing 
war  with  a  cruel  and  treacherous  foe. 

Meanwhile  Usher  was  managing  the  civil  affairs  of  the 
colony.  Somewhat  imperious  and  overbearing  in  his  man- 
ners, his  conduct  by  no  means  pleased  the  liberty-loving 
sons  of  New  Hampshire ;  and  the  fact  that  he  was  in  the 
interest  of  one  who  laid  claim  to  their  lands  was  enousrh 
to  excite  a  prejudice  against  him,  and  to  render  his  admin- 
istration, though  devoid  of  any  remarkable  occurrences,  a 
scene  of  petty  strife. 

In  1697  William  Partridge,  of  Portsmouth,  received  a 
commission  appointing  him  lieutenant  governor  in  place  of 
Usher.  One  of  his  first  acts  was  to  restore  several  mem- 
bers of  the  council  who  had  been  suspended  by  his  prede- 
cessor. But  the  next  year,  the  Earl  of  Bellamont,  having 
been  appointed  governor  of  New  York,  Massachusetts  Bay, 
and  New  Hampshire,  came  to  New  York,  where  he  re- 
mained the  first  year  after  his  arrival.  During  that  time 
Allen  came  over  and  assumed  the  command.  His  short 
administration  was  marked  by  continual  altercations  be- 
tween himself  and  the  people.  But  in  the  spriug  of  1699 
the  Earl  of  Bellamont  set  out  to  visit  his  eastern  colonies, 
and  assumed  the  government  of  New  Hampshire,  to  the 
great  joy  of  the  people.  Partridge,  who  had  withdrawn 
on  the  arrival  of  Allen,  now  returned  and  resumed  his 


44  NEW    HAMrSIIIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

office.  The  eaii  departed  in  about  eighteen  days,  leaving 
Partridge  in  command. 

Allen  now  attempted  to  obtain  possession  of  the  territo- 
ry which  he  had  purchased  of  the  Masons.  But  the  judg- 
ments of  the  courts  previously  rendered  in  favor  of  the 
claimants  could  not  now  be  found,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  commence  anew.  The  courts  of  the  colony  having  de- 
cided against  him,  he  appealed  to  the  king.  Failing  in  the 
proof  of  some  important  points,  he  lost  his  case,  though  the 
royal  council  gave  him  permission  to  begin  new  suits  in  the 
New  Hampshire  courts.  But  at  length,  wearied  out  with 
continued  disappointment  and  delay,  he  proposed  to  make  a 
comj^romise  with  the  people ;  but  his  sudden  death  pre- 
vented its  consummation. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Earl  of  Bellamont  died ;  and  Queen 
Anne  appointed  Joseph  Dudley  governor  of  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire.  This  was  in  1702.  The  next  year 
Usher  was  again-appointed  lieutenant  governor. 

After  the  death  of  Allen  his  son  and  heir  renewed  the 
suit ;  but  the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  against  him.  He  ap- 
pealed to  the  queen ;  but  the  ministry  suspended  the  final 
decision ;  and  at  length  his  death  ended  the  contest 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Dudley  holds  a  Conference  with  the  Indians.  —  They  commence  Hostilities. — 
Various  Attacks.  —  Defence  of  Durham.  —  Expeditions  against  Port  Royal. 
—  Death  of  Colonel  Hilton.  —  Attempted  Reduction  of  Canada.  —  Appoint- 
ment of  Shutc  and  Vaughan  as  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor.  —  The 
latter  is  superseded  by  John  Wentworth.  —  Progress  in  industrial  Pur- 
suits. —  Settlement  of  Londonderry.  —  Incorporation  of  new  Towns.  — 
Governor  Shute  returns  to  England. — More  Trouble  with  the  Indians. — 
Causes  of  their  Hostility  to  tlie  English.  —  Attempt  to  capture  Ralle.  —  At- 
tack on  Dover  and  other  Places.  —  Expedition  to  Norridgewock  and  Death 
of  RaUe.  — Adventures  of  Captain  LovewcU.  —  Ratification  of  Peace. 

Dudley,  on  assuming  his  office,  had  some  fears  of  an  In- 
dian outbreak ;  and  to  prevent  this,  if  possible,  he  called 
together  the  chiefs  of  several  tribes  and  with  them  con- 
firmed peace,  which  they  made  the  most  solemn  promises 
to  maintain  inviolate.  But,  notwithstanding  their  fair  pro- 
fessions, urged  on  by  the  French,  they  soon  renewed  hos- 
tilities. The  first  attack  was  made  in  August,  1703,  —  only 
a  few  months  after  the  conference,  —  upon  the  eastern  set- 
tlements of  Maine.  From  this  time  until  peace  was  de- 
clared, in  1713,  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontiers  were  kept 
in  constant  fear.  Yet  no  very  memorable  actions  were  per- 
formed; and  the  history  of  this  war,  commonly  called 
Queen  Anne's  war,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  New  England, 
presents  little  else  than  individual  instances  of  suffering 
and  cruelty. 

At  Hampton  village   the  savages  killed  five  persons; 

(46) 


46  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

among  Avliom  was  the  widow  Mussey,  a  speaker  among  the 
Friends.  A  winter  expedition  was  undertaken  against 
them,  but  resulted  in  nothing.  In  the  spring  of  1704  they 
renewed  hostihties  and  attacked  the  settlements  on  Oyster 
and  Lamprey  Rivers.  Colonel  Church  soon  after  sailed 
alonar  the  eastern  shore  and  did  the  enemy  considerable 
damage.  In  1706  they  attacked  the  garrison  at  Durham. 
The  men  were  all  absent ;  but  the  women,  putting  on  hats 
and  disguising  themselves  as  much  as  possible,  defended 
the  place  so  valiantly  that  the  enemy  fled.  The  next  win- 
ter Colonel  Hilton  succeeded  in  surprising  eighteen  of  the 
savages ;  wliich,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  finding  the 
enemy,  was  regarded  as  a  great  victory.  The  same  year 
an  expedition  was  fitted  out  against  Port  Royal,*  in  Nova 
Scotia,  the  capital  of  the  French  settlements.  On  landing, 
they  fell  into  an  ambuscade  of  the  Indians  ;  but  Walton 
and  Cheslcy,  at  the  head  of  the  New  Hampshire  troops, 
pushed  on  and  put  the  enemy  to  flight.  But  disagreements 
arose  among  the  officers ;  and  finally  the  army  returned 
sickly  and  dispirited,  but  without  having  suffered  any  great 
loss. 

For  a  considerable  time  but  little  was  done  on  either  side. 
The  Indians  were  still  prowling  about,  ready  to  fall  upon 
any  whom  they  might  find  off"  their  guard.  In  1710  a 
new  effort  was  made  to  reduce  Port  Royal,  which  proved 
successful.  While  preparations  were  being  made  for  this, 
and  before  the  officers  were  appointed,  New  Hampshire 
was  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  brave  Colonel  AVinthrop 
Hilton.  He  had  gone  out  with  several  others  to  a  consid- 
erable distance  from  home  to  peel  the  bark  from  some  trees 
which  had  been  felled.     While  engaged  in  this  the  Indians 

*  Now  called  Annapolis. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  ^  47 

rushed  suddenly  upon  them  and  killed  three,  one  of  whom 
was  Colonel  Hilton,  and  took  tAvo  prisoners.  The  rest 
fled,  unable  to  make  any  defence,  their  guns  being  wet. 
Thus  fell  this  gallant  man,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  colony. 

In  1711  the  English  government  sent  over  a  force  to  aid 
the  colonics  in  attempting  the  conquest  of  Canada.  To 
this  New  Hampshire  contributed  one  hundred  men.  The 
army  consisted  of  more  than  six  thousand  men,  well  sup- 
plied with  the  munitions  of  war.  They  set  out  with  the 
fairest  prospects  of  success ;  but  in  one  fatal  night  their 
hopes  were  blasted.  A  part  of  the  fleet  was  wrecked  in 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  a  thousand  men  perished :  the  rest 
returned.  This  failure  emboldened  the  Indians,  who  re- 
newed their  attacks  at  Exeter,  Oyster  River,  and  Dover. 
But  in  1712  the  news  of  the  peace  of  Utrecht  was  received, 
to  the  great  joy  of  the  people.  Hostilities  were  then  sus- 
pended ;  and  not  long  after  a  formal  peace  was  ratified  with 
the  Indians.  A  vessel  was  then  sent  to  Quebec  to  ex- 
change prisoners.  By  this  many  were  released  from  what 
had  seemed  a  hopeless  bondage  and  restored  to  their  home 
and  friends.  Some,  however,  had  become  so  attached  to 
the  life  of  the  Indian  that  they  preferred  to  remain  rather 
than  to  return  to  civilized  life. 

On  the  accession  of  George  I.  to  the  throne  of  England, 
in  1715,  a  change  of  government  was  expected;  and, 
though  the  assembly  petitioned  for  the  continuance  of 
Dudley,  their  request  was  not  granted.  Samuel  Shute 
was  appointed  governor  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  George  Vaughan  lieutenant  governor  of  the  lat- 
ter province.  As  Dudley  was  in  daily  expectation  of  his 
successor,  though  not  then  actually  superseded,  he  gave  up 
the  command  of  New  Hampshire  to  the  lieutenant ;  so  that 
for  a  year  Vaughan  had  the  sole  management  of  affairs. 


48  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

He  attempted  to  establish  the  land  tax  of  Great  Britain  in 
Ids  province  —  a  procedure  which  greatly  offended  the 
people. 

Governor  Shute  arrived  and  published  his  commission  in 
1716.  On  assuming  his  office  he  removed  several  of  the 
councillors,  and  appointed  citizens  of  Portsmouth  in  their 
places.  This  gave  offence  to  the  other  towns  of  the  colony, 
as  they  feared  the  preponderance  of  the  trading  interest. 
In  the  mean  time  a  controversy  arose  between  the  govern- 
or and  his  lieutenant  —  the  latter  claiming  the  right  to  ex- 
ercise the  command  whenever  the  former  was  absent  from 
the  province.  As  Shute  resided  most  of  the  time  in  Bos- 
ton, tbis  would  have  given  Vaughan  almost  the  exclusive 
administration  of  business ;  but,  having  disobeyed  some  of 
the  instructions  of  the  governor,  he  was  complained  of  to 
the  king,  who  removed  him,  and  appointed  John  Went- 
worth  in  his  place. 

During  the  long  and  di-tressing  war  with  the  Indians  it 
required  all  the  energy  of  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  to 
bave  themselves  from  utter  destruction.  But  the  glad  re- 
turn of  peace  brought  with  it  a  desire  to  develop  the  re- 
sources of  the  infant  state.  The  noble  Avhite  pines  of  the 
forest  were  well  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  royal  navy ;  and, 
to  preserve  those  suitable  for  masts,  a  surveyor  was  ap- 
pointed to  mark  all  such  with  a  broad  arrow,  and  a  law 
was  enacted  forbidding  any  person  to  cut  a  tree  thus  re- 
served except  at  the  direction  of  the  surveyor.  But  the  peo- 
ple sometimes  violated  the  law,  which  their  acquaintance 
with  the  woods  enabled  them  to  do,  often  with  impunity. 
They  complained,  too,  that  the  surveyor  neglected  to  mark 
the  trees,  and  then  prosecuted  those  who  ventured  to  use 
them. 

There  were  also  in  some  localities  many  pitch-pine  trees 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  •  49 

from  which  tar  and  turpentine  Avere  manufactured.  A 
company  of  merchants  attempted  to  monopolize  the  manu- 
facture of  these  articles  ;  but,  when  a  large  number  of  trees 
were  prepai-ed  for  use,  they  were  destroyed  by  unknown 
hands. 

The  raising  of  hemp  was  commenced,  but  not  prosecuted 
to  any  great  extent,  as  there  was  no  more  land  under  cul- 
tivation than  was  needed  for  other  purposes.  Encourage- 
ment was  given  to  the  manufacture  of  iron  —  the  ore  being 
abundant  in  several  localities.  For  the  further  encourage- 
ment of  the  colonists,  as  well  as  for  the  benefit  of  the 
mother  country,  lumber  was  admitted  into  England  free  of 
duty. 

In  the  spring  of  1719  the  province  received  an  accession 
of  inhabitants  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  They  were  the 
descendants  of  Scotch  Presbyterians  who  had  settled  in  the 
counties  of  Antrim  and  Londonderry  for  the  sake  of  great- 
er religious  fi'eedom ;  but  as  some  penal  laws  were  still  in 
force,  and  as  they  were  compelled  to  pay  tithes,  they  deter- 
mined to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world.  One  hundred 
and  twenty  families  embarked  for  America ;  of  whom  a  part 
landed  at  Boston,  the  rest  at  Portland.  Sixteen  families 
selected  a  place  then  called  Nutfield*  as  their  future  home. 
Soon  afler  their  arrival  at  this  place  a  sermon  was  preached 
under  a  large  oak,  which  was  long  regarded  with  peculiar 
veneration.  As  soon  as  they  were  settled  they  called  Mc- 
(jrregore  to  be  their  minister,  who  remained  with  them  un- 
til his  death.  He  is  said  to  have  been  "a.  -wdse,  affection- 
ate, and  faithful  guide  to  them  both  in  civil  and  religious 
concerns.''  In  the  mean  time  they  received  additions  to 
their  number;  and  in  1722  their  town  was  incorporated 

*  On  account  of  the  large  number  of  walnut  ^d  chestnut  trees  growing  there. 

5 


50  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

under  the  name  of  Londonderry  —  from  a  city  in  Ireland 
memorable  for  its  defence  when  besieged  by  the  army  of 
King  James,  Some  of  their  number  had  suffered  the  hard- 
ships of  this  siege. 

These  settlers  were  conscientious,  frugal,  and  industri- 
ous, and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  rapidly  increased 
in  wealth  and  influence.  Their  descendants  emigrated  to 
various  places  in  New  England,  and  now  number  many 
thousands.  Among  them  are  reckoned  some  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  our  country. 

The  way  was  now  paved  for  the  settlement  of  other  un- 
occupied lands;  and  in  1722  four  townships  —  Chester, 
Nottingham,  Barrington,  and  Rochester  —  were  chartered 
and  incorporated.  The  signing  of  these  charters  was  the 
last  official  act  of  Governor  Shute.  Though  the  people  of 
New  Hampshire  were  well  satisfied  with  his  management, 
he  encountered  so  much  opposition  in  Massachusetts  that 
he  returned  to  England.  Lieutenant  Governor  Wentworth 
then  took  the  command. 

Again  was  the  colony  called  to  endure  the  hardships  of 
an  Indian  war.  Again  the  war  whoop  of  the  savage  was 
heard,  while  the  smoke  of  burning  dwellings  marked  his 
destructive  progress. 

There  were  various  causes  which  operated  to  bring  on 
this  war.  The  English  had  always  treated  the  Indians  as 
subjects  of  the  royal  government,  and,  as  such,  endeavored 
to  control  them ;  while  the  French  permitted  them  to  re- 
tain their  savage  independence.  The  royal  governors  at 
the  north  did  not  endeavor,  like  William  Penn,  to  gain 
their  good  will  by  kind  and  just  treatment.  They  some- 
times purchased  land  of  them,  but  generally  for  an  incon- 
siderable price.  Even  when  a  purchase  was  made,  the  In- 
dians, having  no  records,  soon  forgot  the  transaction,  or 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  61 

thought  that  bargains  made  by  their  ancestors  were  not 
binding  upon  themselves.  They  complained,  too,  of  the 
traders,  who  often  took  advantage  of  their  ignorance.  At 
first  they  were  not  aware  that  the  building  of  dams  and  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  would  lessen  their  supplies  of  fish 
and  game ;  but  when  they  found  this  to  be  the  case  they 
determined  to  check  the  further  progress  of  the  English. 

The  Jesuits  had,  at  an  early  period,  established  mission- 
ary stations  among  the  eastern  Indians.*  One  of  these 
was  at  Norridgewock,  on  the  Kenn  check,  under  the  care 
of  Sebastian  Ralle.  By  his  gentle,  condescending  deport- 
ment, and  by  his  kind  treatment  of  the  natives,  he  had 
gained  their  confidence  and  good  will  to  such  an  extent 
that  he  possessed  almost  unlimited  influence  over  them ; 
but  the  English  regarded  him  as  the  chief  instigator  of 
strife,  and  determined  on  his  capture.  For  this  purpose  a 
party  was  despatched  under  Colonel  Westbrook ;  but  Father 
Halle  escaped.  This  was  in  the  winter  of  1722.  The  In- 
dians could  not  suffer  such  an  attempt  against  their  spirit- 
ual father  to  remain  long  unrevenged.  Before  this  they 
had  been  troublesome  to  the  settlers  in  the  eastern  towns  — 
burning  their  hay,  killing  their  cattle,  and  the  like ;  but 
now  they  prepared  for  more  desperate  measures.  The 
next  summer  they  took  several  prisoners  at  Merry  Meeting 
Bay,  and  soon  after  destroyed  Brunswick.  The  govern- 
ment then  decided  upon  hostilities ;  and  a  formal  declara- 
tion of  war  was  issued  at  Boston  and  Portsmouth. 

The  first  appearance  of  the  enemy  in  New  Hampshire 
was  at  Dover  ;  their  next  at  Lamprey  River ;  and  soon  after 
they  attacked  the  settlements  at  Oyster  River,  Kingston, 
and  Chester.     There  were  several  families  of  Quakers  at 

*  Called  by  the  French  the  Aheneqais. 


52  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Dover,  who  refused  to  use  any  means  of  defence,  believing 
the  use  of  arms  unlawful.  The  savages  marked  the  house 
of  John  Hanson  for  their  prey.  While  Hanson,  two  of  his 
sons,  and  his  oldest  daughter  were  absent,  they  entered  the 
house  and  took  his  wife,  with  four  of  his  children,  prison- 
ers. Mr.  Hanson  afterwards  went  to  Canada  and  redeemed 
his  wife  and  three  of  the  children.  The  other,  a  daughter, 
he  could  not  obtain.  He  started  a  second  time,  hoping  to 
procure  her  release,  but  died  at  Crown  Point  while  on  his 
way  to  Canada. 

In  1724  a  second  expedition  was  made  against  Norridge- 
wock.  Father  Ralle  and  a  large  number  of  the  Indians 
were  killed.  The  victorious  party  destroyed  the  chapel, 
and  brought  away  the  plate  and  furniture  of  the  altar  as 
trophies  of  the  battle.  Ralle  was  then  sixty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  had  been  a  missionary  among  the  Indians  for  thir- 
ty-one years. 

The  colonial  government  offered  a  reward  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  for  each  Indian  scalp.  This,  together  with 
their  hatred  of  the  enemy,  induced  many  parties  to  go  out 
as  volunteers.  One  of  these  companies,  vmder  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  John  Lovewell,  of  Dunstable,  was  much 
distinguished,  at  first  by  success,  and  afterwards  by  misfor- 
tune. In  the  first  excursion  they  killed  one  and  took  a 
boy  alive.  Returning  to  Boston,  they  received  the  prom- 
ised reward  and  several  presents  in  addition.  This  success 
increased  the  number  of  the  company  to  seventy.  They 
started  on  a  second  expedition ;  but  their  provisions  fell 
short,  and  thirty  of  the  number  were  dismissed.  The  re- 
mainder went  on,  and  in  the  town  of  Wakefield  surprised 
ten  Indians  asleep,  whom  they  killed.  A  third  time  they 
set  out,  intending  to  attack  the  villages  of  the  Pequaketts 
on  the  upper  branches  of  the  Saco.     One  of  the  men  falhng 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  58 

sick,  they  built  a  stockade  fort  on  the  west  side  of  Great 
Ossipee  Pond.  Here  they  left  the  surgeon  and  several  of 
the  company  for  a  guard.  The  number  was  now  reduced 
to  thirty-four.  Marching  north  some  twenty-two  miles,  on 
the  morning  of  the  8th  of  May,  1725,  they  saw  a  solitary 
Indian  standing  on  a  point  of  land  projecting  into  a  pond 
near  which  they  had  encamped.*  Apprehending  that  he 
was  placed  there  as  a  decoy,  they  concealed  their  packs 
among  the  trees  and  proceeded  with  great  caution.  In  the 
mean  time  two  parties  of  Indians,  under  Paugus  and  Wah- 
wa,  came  upon  their  track  and  pursued  it  until  they  came 
to  the  place  where  they  had  left  their  packs.  Counting 
these,  and  finding  the  number  of  the  English  less  than  their 
own,  they  placed  themselves  in  ambush  near  the  spot. 

Lovewell's  company,  having  met  the  Indian  who  was 
first  seen,  killed  and  scalped  him.  Seeing  no  others,  they 
returned  to  the  place  where  they  had  left  their  packs. 
While  looking  for  them,  the  Indians  rose  and  commenced 
firing.  Captain  Lovewell  and  eight  of  his  men  were  killed 
on  the  spot.  The  rest,  under  Lieutenant  Wyman,  reso- 
lutely defended  themselves  ;  and  towards  night  the  savages 
retired.     Paugus  was  slain. 

On  assembling  the  remnant  of  the  company,  it  was  found 
that  nine  were  unhurt,  and  eleven  wounded,  but  able  to 
march.  Their  chaplain,  Jonathan  Frye,  Ensign  Robbins, 
and  another  were  mortally  wounded.  These  they  were 
compelled  to  leave.  They  made  the  best  of  their  way  to 
the  fort  where  the  guard  had  been  left ;  but,  to  their  sur- 
prise, it  was  deserted.  In  the  beginning  of  the  action  one 
man  had  fled  from  the  field  and  informed  them  of  the  de- 
feat of  Lovewell.     From  this  place  they  set  out  for  home. 

•  This  pond  is  in  Fryeburg,  Maine.    The  scene  of  action  is  stiU  pointed  out 

6* 


54  NEW   HAMPSHIKE    AS   IT    IS. 

One  or  two  perished  of  their  wounds ;  the  rest  returned  in 
safety. 

The  colonies  now  sent  commissioners  to  complain  to 
Vaudreuil,  the  governor  of  Canada,  of  the  aid  he  had  given 
the  Indians.  This  produced  a  favorable  effect ;  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  1725  a  treaty  of  peace  was  made  at  Boston, 
and  ratified  the  next  spring  at  Falmouth. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


Controversy  with  Massachusetts.  —  Grants  of  To^vnships.  —  A  new  Assembly 
is  chosen.  —  Burnet's  short  Administration.  —  Belcher  succeeds  him.  — 
Death  of  Wentworth  and  Appointment  of  Dunbar.  —  Party  Strife. — Set- 
tlement of  the  Boundary.  —  War  with  France.  —  Siege  and  Capture  of  Lou- 
isburgh. — Project  to  invade  Canada.  —  Approach  of  a  French  Fleet. — 
Indian  Hostilities. —  Defence  of  Charlestown.  —  The  Heir  of  Mason  sells 
his  Claim.  —  Controversy  between  Governor  "Wentworth  and  the  Assem- 
bly.— Proposal  to  settle  the  CoOs.  —  Jealousy  and  Resentment  of  the  In- 
dians. 


A  CONTROVERSY  now  arose  with  Massachusetts  respect- 
ing the  boundary  line  between  the  two  provinces.  That 
colony  claimed  all  the  land  to  a  line  commencing  at  a  point 
three  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack,  thence 
running  west  and  north  parallel  with  the  river  to  a  point 
in  the  present  town  of  Sanbornton,  thence  due  west.  To 
strengthen  this  claim  by  gaining  possession  of  the  disputed 
territory,  several  grants  were  made  and  new  settlements 
commenced.  The  Indians  had  mostly  disappeared  from 
New  Hampshire ;  and  now  the  fertile  lands  on  the  Merri- 
mack, once  the  dwelling-place  of  the  Pennacooks,  were 
taken  possession  of  by  emigrants  from  Massachusetts.  The 
settlement  of  Concord  was  commenced  in  1727.  Town- 
ships were  also  granted  to  the  descendants  of  soldiers  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  wars  of  the  previous  century,  and 
to  the  survivors  of  Lovewell's  company.     This  aroused  the 

(55) 


56  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

New  Hampshire  government,  which  the  same  year  granted 
several  townships. 

On  the  death  of  George  I.  the  assembly,  which  had  sub- 
sisted five  years,  was  dissolved,  and  a  new  one  called  in 
the  name  of  Geoi'ge  II.  On  meeting,  an  act  was  passed 
limiting  the  dui'ation  of  the  assembly  to  three  years.  The 
house  then  attempted  to  remodel  the  courts ;  but  the  coun- 
cil resisted.  A  contest  sprang  up  between  them,  which  the 
lieutenant  governor  terminated  by  dissolving  the  assembly. 
This  gave  offence  to  the  people ;  but  in  the  mean  time 
William  Burnet  arrived  and  published  his  commission  as 
governor  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts.  He  died 
within  a  few  months  after  his  arrival,  and  Jonathan  Bel- 
cher succeeded  him.     This  was  in  1730. 

Governor  Belcher,  having  taken  offence  at  some  of  die 
proceedings  of  Wentworth,  treated  him  with  great  coldness 
and  deprived  him  of  a  large  part  of  his  salary.  The  latter 
died  soon  after ;  but  his  friends  resented  th5  affront  and 
formed  a  party  in  opposition  to  the  governor.  David  Dun- 
bar was  appointed  the  successor  of  Wentworth,  and  imme- 
diately joined  the  opposition. 

Whatever  were  the  alleged  grounds  of  the  controversy, 
it  is  evident  that  Governor  Belcher  and  his  friends  had  pro- 
jected the  union  of  New  Hampshire  with  Massachusetts ; 
while  the  opposing  party  demanded  a  distinct  governor,  who  •  • 
should  reside  in  their  own  province.  The  chief  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  this  was  the  want  of  adequate  means  of  sup- 
porting him ;  and  to  remove  this,  it  became  their  object  to 
enlarge  their  territory  and  to  fix  its  boundaries.  In  1731 
a  committee  of  both  provinces  met  at  Newbuiy,  but 
through  the  influence  of  Massachusetts  failed  to  come  to 
an  agreement.     The    representatives   of  New  Hampshire 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  57 

then  appealed  to  the  king,  and  appointed  John  Rindge,  of 
Portsmouth,  to  present  the  petition.  The  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  at  length  it  was  ordered 
that  the  settlement  of  the  line  should  be  made  by  a  board 
of  commissioners  chosen  from  the  councillors  of  the  neigh- 
boring provinces.  The  board  met  at  Hampton  in  1737. 
The  commissioners  fixed  upon  the  present  eastern  bounda- 
ry, but  made  no  positive  decision  as  to  the  southern  line. 
Both  parties  then  appealed  to  the  king,  who,  in  1740,  ter- 
minated the  dispute  in  favor  of  New  Hampshire,  giving 
her  a  tract  of  land  fifty  miles  in  length  by  fourteen  in 
breadth  more  than  she  had  claimed.* 

In  the  mean  time  the  opponents  of  Governor  Belcher 
were  laboring  strenuously  to  procure  his  removal,  and  were 
finally  successful.  He  was  succeeded  in  Massachusetts  by 
William  Shirley,  and  in  New  Hampshire  by  Benning 
Wentworth ;  thus  giving  the  latter  colony  what  she  could 
now,  with  her  enlarged  territory  and  increased  resources, 
more  justly  claim  —  a  distinct  government. 

In  1735  New  England  was  visited  by  a  severe  epidemic  |  fiijj^^^JT 
known  as  the  throat  distemper.  Its  first  appearance  was  at 
Kingston,  New  Hampshire,  whence  it  spread  in  every  di- 
rection. The  number  of  victims  in  this  province  alone  ex- 
ceeded one  thousand,  most  of  them  children.  This  fatal 
scourge  proved  a  great  check  to  the  progress  of  the  colony. 

In  1744  England  declared  war  against  France.  As  was 
expected,  the  colonies  were  soon  involved  in  the  conflict. 
The  French  governor  of  Louisburgh,  on  Cape  Breton  Isl- 
and, surprised  the  garrison  of  Canseau,  an  island  north-east 
of  Nova  Scotia,  which  was  a  place  of  resort  for  the  English 

*  New  Hampshire  claimed  that  her  southern  boundary  should  be  a  line  com- 
mencing three  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack  and  running  due 
west. 


58  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

fishermen.  The  prisoners  were  detained  for  some  time  and 
them  dismissed  on  parole.  The  account  which  they  gave 
of  Louisburgh  turned  the  attention  of  the  English  to  that 
stronghold,  and  at  length  the  bold  project  of  attempting 
its  reduction  was  formed.  According  to  some  accounts,  the 
plan  was  originated  by  William  Yaughan,  of  Portsmouth. 
Certain  it  is  that  he  Avas  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the 
enterprise. 

Governor  Shirley  laid  the  matter  before  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  early  in  1745,  though  reject- 
ed at  first,  it  was  finally  carried  by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 
Vaughan  immediately  hastened  to  Portsmouth  with  a  copy 
of  a  circular  which  had  been  prepared,  asking  for  assist- 
ance. The  assembly  caught  his  enthusiasm,  and  without 
delay  voted  to  raise  men  and  money.  •  Some  of  the  other 
colonies  also  rendered  assistance.  William  Pepperell  was 
appointed  commander-in-chief 

All  things  being  prepared,  the  forces,  to  which  New 
Hampshire  contributed,  about  five  hundred  men,  sailed  for 
Causeau,  which  had  been  appointed  as  a  place  of  rendez- 
vous. Here  they  remained  three  Aveeks,  waiting  for  the 
ice  around  Cape  Breton  to  dissolve.  On  the  last  of  April 
they  came  in  sight  of  Louisburgh.  Yaughan,  who  held 
the  rank  of  a  lieutenant  colonel,  but  without  a  regular  com- 
mand, volunteered  to  lead  the  first  column  to  invest  the 
city.  During  the  whole  siege  the  New  Hampshire  troops 
were  brave,  active,  and  laborious.  For  fourteen  successive 
nights  they  were  engaged  in  dragging  the  cannon  over  a 
morass ;  and  as  the  wheels  sank  in  the  mire,  Colonel 
Meserve  constructed  sledges  on  whicli  to  draw  them. 

The  governor  of  the  city,  finding  his  supplies  cut  off  yid 
preparations  making  for  a  general  assault,  his  troops  being 
at  the  same  time  sickly  and  dispirited,  resolved  to  surrender. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  59 

which  he  accordingly  did  on  the  17th  of  Juue.  Thus  this 
fortress,  with  the  exception  of  Quebec  the  strongest  in 
America,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 

Shirley  now  projected  the  conquest  of  Canada,  which  the 
British  ministry  encouraged.  In  the  summer  of  1746  New 
Hampshire  raised  eight  hundred  men  as  her  quota.  But 
no  orders  came  from  England,  and  consequently  the  troops 
were  kept  in  a  state  of  suspense  and  inaction.  Towards  au- 
tumn the  country  was  alarmed  by  the  approach  of  a  fleet 
from  France.  Preparations  were  immediately  made  for  de- 
fence. A  new  battery  was  placed  at  the  entrance  of  Piscat- 
aqua  Harbor,  and  another  at  the  point  of  Little  Harbor. 
But  in  a  few  weeks  the  French,  weakened  and  dispirited 
by  shipwreck  and  sickness,  departed  without  having  accom- 
plished their  designs.  After  this  the  New  Hampshire  re- 
giment took  up  their  quarters  near  Winnipiseogee  Lake, 
where  they  spent  the  winter. 

While  the  expedition  against  Cape  Breton  was  in  prog- 
ress, the  frontiers  suffered  much  from  the  Indians.  They 
first  appeared  at  Great  Meadow,*  and  then  at  Upper  Ash- 
uelot,t  killing  one  man  at  each  place.  In  the  spring  of 
1746  they  took  three  prisoners  at  Number  Four,  J  and 
soon  after  laid  a  plan  to  surprise  the  fort  at  Upper  Ashue- 
lot.  A  large  party  concealed  themselves  in  a  swamp  at 
night,  intending  to  rush  in  the  next  morning ;  but  a  man 
who  chanced  to  go  out  very  early  discovered  them  and 
gave  the  alarm.  He  defended  himself  against  two  Indians 
and  escaped  to  the  fort ;  but  two  other  persons  were  slain, 
and  one  was  taken  prisoner.  At  New  Hopkinton^  eight 
were  carried  away  captive.  Other  places  suffered  from  the 
ravages  of  the  enemy ;  and  at  length  the  Massachusetts  gov- 

•  Now  Westmoreland.  t  Now  Keene. 

J  Now  Charlcstown.  {  Now  Hopkinton. 


60 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


.  eminent  sent  troops  to  aid  these  exposed  towns.  Captain 
Paine  came  to  Number  Four,  where  a  part  of  his  men  fell 
into  an  ambush.  A  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  five  men 
were  killed  on  each  side,  and  one  of  the  English  was  taken 
prisoner.  Not  long  after  this  there  was  another  engagement 
at  the  same  place,  in  which  the  enemy  were  repulsed  with 
considerable  loss.  Every  spot  was  full  of  danger.  Busi- 
ness was,  to  a  great  extent,  suspended.  If  the  people 
wanted  bread,  they  were  obliged  to  go  to  the  mills  with  an 
ai'med  guard.  Even  the  lower  towns  did  not  escape. 
Several  Avere  killed  at  llochester.  The  enemy  appeared 
both  at  Pennacook*  and  Contocook,t  killing,  some  and 
taking  others  prisoners. 

Some  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts  thought  it  inexpe- 
dient to  defend  a  territory  which  was  out  of  their  jurisdic- 
tion, and  at  length  prevailed  on  the  assembly  to  withdraw 
their  forces  from  the  western  frontier  of  New  Hampshu'e. 
The  inhabitants  were  then  compelled  to  leave  their  homes. 
But  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts  soon  decided  to  resume 
the  protection  of  these  places.  In  the  spring  of  1747  Cap- 
tain Phineas  Stevens,  with  a  company  of  thirty  rangers, 
came  and  took  possession  of  the  fort  at  Number  Four,  On 
the  4th  of  April  he  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  French 
and  Indians,  but  defended  himself  so  resolutely  that  the 
enemy  retired.  + 

During  the  next  two  years  the  same  scenes  were  enacted 
in  various  quarters.  The  Indians  hovered  about  in  small 
parties,  ready  to  fall  upon  the  unwary.  Yet  it  is  worthy 
of  remark  that  they  treated  their  captives  with  far  more 
kindness  than  in  previous  wars.     This  was  doubtless  owing 


•  Now  Concord.  t  Now  Boscawen, 

J  See  gazetteer,  under  "  Charlestown." 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  61 

to  the  high  price  that  was  paid  for  the  ransom  of  prisoners. 
lu  1749  peace  was  established. 

In  1746  the  heir  of  Mason,  availing  himself  of  some  le- 
gal defect  in  the  sale  to  Allen,  sold  his  interest  in  the  soil 
of  New  Hampshire  to  a  company  of  twelve  gentlemen  in 
Portsmouth.  They  quitclaimed  all  the  towns  which  had 
been  previously  granted  and  settled  within  the  limits  of 
their  purchase,  and  also  made  new  grants  on  fair  and  equi- 
table terms,  so  that  the  prejudice  which  was  at  first  excited 
against  them  gradually  died  out. 

When  the  extension  of  the  boundary  lines  brought  Fort 
Dummer*  within  the  limits  of  New  Hampshire,  the  gov- 
ernor, wishing  to  maintain  it,  caused  six  new  members  to 
be  elected  to  the  assembly  from  towns  which  were  supposed 
to  favor  that  project ;  but  the  house  excluded  them,  and 
the  governor,  being  engrossed  with  the  expedition  against 
Louisburgh,  yielded  the  point.  On  the  return  of  peace, 
having  received  fresh  instructions  from  the  royal  govern- 
ment, he  called  a  new  assembly,  with  members  from  those 
towns  whose  representatives  had  before  been  rejected.  The 
assembly  again  resisted,  and  for  three  years  no  public  busi- 
ness was  transacted.  The  recorder's  office  was  closed,  the 
soldiers  Avcre  unpaid.  But  in  1752  a  new  assembly  was 
called,  which  came  together  with  a  spirit  of  moderation, 
and  proceeded  to  the  transaction  of  business. 

During  the  same  year  it  was  proposed  to  plant  settle- 
ments on  the  rich  meadows  of  Coos  —  at  Haverhill  and 
Newbury.     But  a  deputation  of  the  St.   Francis  Indians 

* 

•  In  Hinsdale.  The  town  was  originally  called  by  the  same  name.  The 
New  Hampshire  assembly  refused  to  assume  the  expense  of  supporting  this 
fort,  for  the  reason  that  it  was  fifty  miles  distant  from  any  settlement  made  by 
the  people  of  their  own  state.  The  Massachusetts  government  continued  its 
support  of  this  place,  as  well  na  of  Number  Four,  until  1757. 

6 


62     •  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

came  to  Number  Four  and  remonstrated  against  it,  threat- 
ening hostilities  in  case  it  should  be  pursued,  so  that  the 
plan  was  abandoned.  A  party  of  the  same  tribe  surprised 
four  young  men  who  were  hunting  on  Baker's  River.  Two 
were  taken  prisoners,  one  escaped,  and  one  was  killed. 
One  of  the  prisoners  was  John  Stark,  then  sixteen  years  of 
age.  The  Indians,  admiring  his  bold  bearing,  adopted  him 
into  their  tribe ;  but  he  was  soon  ransomed.  This  early 
captivity  fitted  him  to  be  an  expert  partisan  in  the  succeed- 
ing war. 

Two  warriors  also  of  the  same  tribe,  named  Sabatis  and 
Plausawa,  came  to  Canterbury,  where  they  were  cruelly 
murdered.  A  present  was  made  to  the  tribe,  intended  "  to 
wipe  away  the  blood."  The  murderers  were  apprehended 
and  brought  to  Portsmouth,  but  an  armed  mob  released 
them  before  the  day  of  trial.  Rewards  were  oflfered  for  the 
apprehension  of  the  rioters  ;  but  no  discoveries  were  made, 
as  the  people  regarded  the  action  meritorious.  Afterwards, 
when  a  conference  with  the  Indians  was  held  at  Portland, 
the  St.  Francis  tribe  refused  to  attend,  but  sent  a  message 
to  the  effect  that  the  blood  was  not  wiped  away.  They  stiU 
remembered  the  injury,  and  were  ready  to  avenge  it.  And 
it  was  not  long  before  they  had  an  opportunity. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  "Old  French  War."  —  Indian  Hostilities.  —  Expeditions  against  Crown 
Point.  —  Massacre  at  Fort  Edward.  —  Rogers's  Expedition  against  the  St. 
Francis  Indians.  —  Conquest  of  Canada.  —  Grants.  —  Settlement  of  the 
western  Boundary.  —  The  Stamp  Act.  —  Mcserve  is  appointed  Distribu- 
tor. —  His  Resignation.  —  Demonstrations  of  the  People.  —  Benning  Went- 
worth  is  superseded  by  John  Wcntworth.  —  Taxes.  —  Dartmouth  College. 
—  Division  of  the  Province  into  Counties.  —  The  Tea  sent  to  Portsmouth  is 
reshippcd.  —  Convention  at  Exeter. — Seizure  of  Gunpowder  and  Arms  at 
Fort  William  Henry.  —  Attempts  of  Wentworth  to  maintain  Peace.  — 
Close  of  his  Administration. 

France  now  resolved  to  connect  her  distant  settlements 
in  Canada  and  Louisiana  by  extending  a  line  of  forts  from 
the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Mississippi.  She  also  wished  to 
extend  her  limits  to  the  east,  in  order  to  command  naviga- 
tion in  the  winter.  This  encroachment  upon  territory 
claimed  by  the  English  led  to  war.  At  the  first  report  of 
hostilities  the  Indians  renewed  their  attacks  upon  the  fron- 
tiers of  New  Hampshire.  In  August,  1754,  they  surprised 
the  family  of  James  Johnson,  at  Number  Four,  and  carried 
away  eight  prisoners. 

In  the  spring  of  1755  an  expedition  was  undertaken 
against  Crown  Point.  For  this  New  Hampshire  raised  five 
hundred  men.  General  Johnson,  the  commander  of  the 
forces,  posted  this  regiment  at  Fort  Edward,  while  he  was 
encamped  near  Lake  George.  On  the  8th  of  September 
he  was  attacked  by  a  body  of  French  and  Indians.     A 

(63) 


64  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

detachment,  sent  out  from  Fort  Edward  on  the  same  day, 
took  the  baggage  and  ammunition  of  the  enemy,  and  seri- 
ously annoyed  them  in  their  retreat.  After  this  the  New 
Hampshire  forces  were  employed  as  scouts.  Another  regi- 
ment of  three  hundred  men  was  raised  and  employed  for 
the  same  purpose. 

The  next  year  Governor  Shirley  planned  another  expe- 
dition against  Crown  Point,  but  he  was  superseded  by  the 
Earl  of  Loudon.  At  the  request  of  the  latter,  three  com- 
panies of  rangers  were  formed  from  the  New  Hampshire 
regiment,  and  the  command  given  to  John  and  William 
Stark  and  Robert  Rogers.  But  the  season  passed  away, 
and  but  little  was  accomplished.  The  campaign  of  1757 
opened  with  a  new  expedition  against  Crown  Point.  New 
Hampshire,  as  usual,  contributed  her  share  of  men.  A  part 
of  the  regiment  was  posted  at  Fort  "William  Henry  with 
other  forces.  General  Montcalm  invested  this  fort  with  a 
large  body  of  French  and  Indians ;  and  on  the  sixth  day 
the  garrison,  having  expended  their  ammunition,  capitulat- 
ed. They  were  allowed  the  honors  of  war,  and  were  to  be 
escorted  to  Fort  Edward.  But  the  Indians,  enraged  at  the 
terms  of  surrender,  fell  upon  them  as  they  were  marching 
out  unarmed,  plundered  them  without  restraint,  and  mur- 
dered all  who  made  any  resistance.  The  New  Hampshire 
troops  happened  to  be  in  the  rear  ;  and  out  of  two  hundred 
men  eighty  were  killed  or  taken. 

When  William  Pitt  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  British 
ministry,  affairs  were  prosecuted  with  new  and  increased 
vigor.  The  strongholds  of  the  French  were  taken  one 
after  another.  Quebec,  the  strongest  city  in  America, 
yielded  to  the  victorious  arms  of  Wolfe  in  1759.  The 
same  year,  Rogers,  with  two  hundred  rangers,  was  de- 
spatched to  destroy  the  Indian  village  of  St.  Francis.     He 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  #9 

halted  at  night  within  three  miles  of  the  place,  Avhich  was 
visible  from  the  top  of  a  tree.  In  the  evening  he  entered 
the  village  in  disguise,  accompanied  by  two  of  his  officers. 
He  found  the  Indians  engaged  in  a  grand  dance.  Having 
posted  his  men  to  the  best  advantage,  he  made  an  attack 
just  before  day,  when  the  savages  were  asleep.  But  little 
resistance  could  be  made.  Some  were  killed  in  their 
houses,  others  were  shot  or  tomahawked  as  they  fled.  The 
light  of  day  disclosed  the  sight  of  several  hundred  scalps 
of  the  English  elevated  on  poles.  The  assailants  found  the 
place  enriched  with  plunder  from  the  frontiers  and  by  the 
sale  of  captives.  Having  set  fire  to  the  village,  they  com- 
menced their  retreat,  intending  to  rendezvous  at  the  Upper 
Coos.  They  kept  together  for  about  ten  days,  passing  on, 
the  east  side  of  Lake  Memphremagog,  and  then,  being  short 
of  provisions,  separated  into  small  parties,  that  they  might 
gain  subsistence  by  hunting.  They  were  now  reduced  to 
the  extreme  of  suffering.  Some  perished  in  the  woods, 
some  were  cut  off  by  the  Indians,  and  others  at  last  reached 
Number  Four. 

The  conquest  of  Canada  was  completed  in  1760,  which 
put  an  end  to  the  Indian  depredations.  Many  captives  re- 
turned. From  this  time  forth  the  people  of  New  Hamp- 
shire were  freed  from  the  attacks  of  their  savage  and  relent- 
less foe. 

During  the  war,  troops  were  continually  passing  through 
the  territory  now  known  as  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  had 
observed  its  fertility.  Governor  Wentworth  claimed  this 
as  belonging  to  New  Hampshire,  and  at  once  proceeded  to 
make  grants,  and  with  such  rapidity  that  in  1761  no  less 
than  sixty  townships  were  granted  on  the  west  and  eigh- 
teen on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut.  This  was  a  great 
6* 


Vm  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS, 

source  of  emolument  to  the  governor,  as,  in  addition  to  his 
fees,  a  reservation  was  made  for  him  of  five  hundred  acres 
in  each  township. 

But  New  York  claimed  as  far  east  as  the  Connecticut ; 
and  finally  the  matter  was  submitted  to  the  royal  decision. 
An  order  was  passed  by  the  king  in  council,  declaring  the 
river  to  be  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  pro\'inces. 

Great  Britain,  burdened  with  an  immense  national  debt, 
now  entered  upon  a  course  of  oppressive  measures,  designed 
to  increase  her  revenue,  by  taxing  the  American  colonies. 
The  first  enactment  that  produced  decided  and  active  op- 
position was  the  celebrated  stamp  act,  which  was  passed  in 
1765.  The  effect  of  this  act  was  to  require  all  notes, 
bonds,  and  other  legal  instruments  in  the  colonies  to  be 
executed  upon  stamped  paper,  on  which  a  duty  was  to  be 
paid.  This  produced  great  excitement  throughout  the  col- 
onies ;  and  the  stamp  officers  were  generally  compelled  to 
resign,  to  save  themselves  from  the  violence  of  the  popu- 
lace. 

George  Meserve  was  appointed  distributor  of  stamps  for 
New  Hampshire.  He  was  in  England  at  the  time  of  his 
appointment,  but  soon  after  came  to  Boston.  Before  he 
landed  he  was  informed  of  the  opposition  of  the  people  to 
the  act,  and  was  requested  to  resign,  which  he  readily  did. 
He  was  then  welcomed  on  shore.  On  his  arrival  at  Ports- 
mouth, he  was  compelled  to  make  a  second  and  more  formal 
resignation  before  going  to  his  house.  Soon  after  the 
stamped  paper  designed  for  this  colony  was  brought  to  Bos- 
ton and  lodged  in  the  Castle,  there  being  no  person  author- 
ized to  receive  it. 

The  stamp  act  was  to  take  eff'ect  on  the  1st  day  of  No- 
vember.    On  the  last  day  of  October  the  New  Hampshire 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  67 

Gazette  *  appeared  with  a  mourning  border.  The  next  day 
a  funeral  ceremony  was  held  over  the  Goddess  of  Liberty. 
On  depositing  her  in  the  grave  some  signs  of  life  were  dis- 
covered, and  she  was  borne  off  by  the  rejoicing  multitude. 
By  such  exhibitions  the  spirit  of  the  people  was  kept  up, 
and  the  opposition  to  arbitrary  enactments  strengthened. 

It  was  rumored  that  Meserve  intended  to  distribute 
stamped  paper,  notwithstanding  his  resignation.  The  Sons 
of  Liberty  took  the  alarm,  and,  having  assembled  in  force, 
compelled  him  to  give  up  his  commission  and  instructions, 
which  they  carried  off  in  triumph.  ]\[eserve  took  an  oath 
before  a  justice  that  he  would  neither  directly  nor  indirect- 
ly attempt  to  execute  his  office.  Ilis  commission  was  sent 
to  the  agents  of  the  province  in  London. 

During  these  proceedings  Governor  Wentworth  remained 
silent.  His  fiiiling  health,  his  advanced  age,  and  his  ample 
fortune  were  all  averse  to  his  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
contest,  or  using  his  authority,  as  the  royal  governor,  to 
crush  the  spirit  of  the  people.  For  a  time  it  was  doubted 
whether  the  courts  could  go  on  with  their  usual  business 
without  the  stamped  paper,  and  some  hoped  to  be  freed 
from  the  payment  of  their  debts.  But  voluntary  associa- 
tions were  formed  at  Portsmouth,  Exeter,  and  other  places, 
to  aid  in  enforcing  the  laws  and  to  support  the  magistrates. 
The  stamp  act  itself  proved  a  dead  letter,  and  in  1766  was 
repealed,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  people. 

In  1767  Governor  Wentworth  was  superseded  by  his 
nephew,  John  Wentworth.  This  appointment  was  very 
acceptable  to  the  people,  by  whom  Wentworth  was  held  in 
great  esteem.  He  had  used  his  influence  to  procure  the 
repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  Avhich  rendered  him  still  more  dear 

♦  Established  at  Portsmouth  in  1756. 


68  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

to  them.     He  had  a  taste  for  agriculture,  and  encouraged 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil  both  by  precept  and  example. 

■  An  act  of  Parliament,  passed  in  1767,  laying  a  tax  on 
glass,  paper,  painters'  colors,  and  tea,  revived  the  bitter 
feelings  wliich  had  been  allayed  by  the  repeal  of  the  stamp 
act.  But  the  personal  popularity  of  Governor  Wentworth, 
together  with  the  influence  of  his  friends,  prevented  the 
adoption  of  a  non-importation  agreement  in  Portsmouth. 
"  We  cannot  depend  on  the  countenance  of  many  persons 
of  the  first  rank  here,"  wrote  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  their 
brethren  in  Boston,  "for  royal  commissions  and  family 
connections  influence  the  principal  gentlemen  among  us  at 
least  to  keep  silence  in  these  evil  times." 

The  establishment  of  Dartmouth  College  was  among  the 
events  of  this  administration.  It  was  founded  by  Eleazar 
Wheelock,  in  1769.  About  the  same  time  the  province 
was  divided  into  five  counties,  named  by  the  governor  after 
some  of  his  friends  in  England  —  Rockingham,  Strafford, 
Hillsborough,  Cheshire,  and  Grafton. 

The  duties  were  soon  repealed  on  all  articles  excepting 
tea.  The  trading  towns  passed  resolutions  not  to  allow  this 
article  to  be  landed  or  sold.  This  proved  eSectual.  In 
some  instances  it  was  sent  back  in  the  same  vessels  which 
brought  it.     At  Boston  it  was  destroyed. 

The  first  cargo  brought  to  Portsmouth  was  landed  and 
stored  in  the  custom  house.  A  town  meeting  was  called, 
and  a  proposition  made  to  the  consignee,  Mr.  Parry,  to  re- 
ship  it,  to  which  he  assented.  It  was  then  peaceably  sent 
to  Halifax.  A  second  cargo  sent  soon  after  to  the  same 
person  caused  some  disturbance.  Mr.  Parry's  house  was 
attacked  and  his  windows  broken.  He  applied  to  the  gov- 
ernor for  protection,  who  summoned  the  council.  But  in 
the  mean  time  the  committee  of  the  town  prevailed  on  the 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  69 

consignee  to  send  this  cargo  also  to  Halifax,  which  ended 
the  difficulty.     This  was  in  1774. 

The  assembly  which  met  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year 
appointed  a  committee  of  correspondence.  The  governor, 
who  had  labored  in  vain  to  prevent  this,  now  dissolved  the 
assembly ;  but  on  a  summons  from  the  committee  the  mem- 
bers came  together  again.  The  governor  entered  their 
meeting,  declared  it  illegal,  and  ordered  them  to  disperse. 
After  he  retired  they  adjourned  to  another  place,  and  wrote 
letters  to  all  the  towns  in  the  state,  requesting  them  to  send 
deputies  to  hold  a  convention  at  Exeter.  They  also  ap- 
pointed a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  which  was  observed 
with  due  solemnity.  The  convention  met  in  due  time,  and 
chose  Nathaniel  Folsom  and  John  Sullivan  delegates  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  Philadelphia. 

An  order  was  passed  by  the  king  in  council  forbidding 
the  exportation  of  gunpowder  to  America.  The  news  of 
this  reached  Portsmouth  at  a  time  when  a  ship  of  war  was 
expected  from  Boston  to  take  possession  of  Fort  William 
and  Mary,  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor.  The  committee 
of  the  town,  with  all  possible  despatch  and  secrecy,  raised 
a  party,  which  assaulted  the  fort,  and,  having  confined  the 
captain  and  five  men,  who  were  the  entire  garrison,  carried 
off  one  hundred  barrels  of  powder.  The  next  day  another 
company  removed  fifteen  of  the  lighter  cannon  and  all  the 
small  arras.  These  articles  were  secreted  in  the  different 
towns.  Major  John  Sullivan  and  John  Langdon  were  lead- 
ers in  the  enterprise.  Immediately  after  its  accomplish- 
ment the  Scarborough  frigate  and  the  sloop-of-war  Canseau 
arrived  with  several  companies  of  soldiers,  who  took  pos- 
session of  the  fort. 

Eai'ly  in  1775  a  second  convention  met  at  Exeter  to  con- 
sult on  the  state  of  affi\irs  and  to  choose  delegates  to  the 


70  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

next  General  Congress,  to  be  holden  on  the  10th  of  May. 
Sullivan  and  Langdon  were  appointed. 
^  On  the  19th  of  April  the  first  blood  of  the  revolution 
was  shed  at  Lexington.  The  people  of  New  Hampshire, 
as  well  as  of  the  other  colonies,  then  flew  to  arms.  Yet 
the  governor  still  hoped  "to  plant  the  root  of  peace  in 
New  Hampshire."  The  assembly  met  in  May,  and  he 
urged  conciliatory  measures.  The  house  desired  a  recess, 
to  consult  with  their  constituents,  which  he  reluctantly 
granted.  In  the  mean  time  a  convention  met  at  Exeter,  in 
which  the  province  was  fully  represented.  They  passed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  those  who  had  taken  the  powder  and  arms 
from  the  fort  the  preceding  Avinter.  They  also  instructed 
the  assembly  how  to  proceed  at  their  next  meeting.  The 
house  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  on  the  12th  of  June. 
Their  first  act  was,  in  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  the 
convention,  to  expel  three  members  whom  the  governor 
had  called  from  new  towns  on  account  of  their  devotion  to 
the  royal  cause,  while  older  and  more  populous  towns  were 
unrepresented.  The  governor  then  adjourned  the  assem- 
bly. One  of  the  expelled  members,  having  censured  the 
proceeding,  was  assaulted  by  the  populace,  and  fled  to  the 
governor  for  protection.  The  people  demanded  him,  and, 
to  enforce  it,  pointed  a  gun  at  the  governor's  door,  upon 
which  the  oflender  was  given  up  and  carried  to  Exeter. 
Wentworth  retired  to  the  fort,  and  his  house  was  pillaged. 
When  the  assembly  met  again  he  sent  a  message,  adjourn- 
ing them  to  the  28th  of  September ;  but  they  met  no  more. 
In  September  he  came  to  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  and  issued  a 
proclamation  adjourning  the  assembly  to  the  next  April. 
This  was  the  closing  act  of  his  administration.  The  British 
government,  which  had  subsisted  ninety-five  years  in  New 
Hampshire,  was  now  at  an  end. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Revolutionary  "War.  — Forces  raised  by  New  Hampshire.  — Preparations  for 
Defence.  —  Treatment  of  the  Tories. — Formution  of  a  temporary  Govern- 
ment. —  Expedition  to  Canada.  —  Declaration  of  Independence.  —  Battle  of 
Bennington. — Surrender  of  Burgoyne.  —  Sullivan's  Expedition  against  the 
Seneca  Indians.  —  Close  of  the  War. — Adoption  of  a  State  Constitution. — 
Troubles  with  Vermont.  —  Distress  and  Rebellion.  —  Formation  and  Adop- 
tion of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  —  Conclusion. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  but  only  to  relate  the  part  performed  by 
our  own  state  in  that  momentous  struggle.  On  receiving 
the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  twelve  hundred  men 
went  from  New  Hampshire  to  join  their  brethren  who  were 
encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  From  these,  two  regi- 
ments were  formed,  and  the  command  given  to  Colonels 
James  Reid  and  John  Stark.  The  latter  was  working  in 
his  sawmill  when  he  heai'd  of  the  commencement  of  hos- 
tilities. He  at  once  dropped  the  implements  of  his  labor 
and  proceeded  to  the  scene  of  action.  These  regiments 
were  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  they  be- 
haved with  great  bravery.  Soon  after  this  battle  a  tliird 
New  Hampshire  regiment,  under  Colonel  Poor,  joined  them. 
The  whole  were  posted  on  Winter  Hill,  under  the  immedi- 
ate command  of  General  Sullivan. 

In  the  autumn  it  Avas  suspected  that  the  British  intended 
to  attack  Portsmouth,  General  Washington  thereupon  sent 
General  Sullivan  to  take  command  of  the  militia  and  defend 

(71) 


'%• 


72  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

the  Harbor  of  Piscataqua.  Some  fortifications  had  already 
been  erected.  These  were  strengthened,  and  other  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  defence.  A  company  of  artillery  was 
stationed  at  the  forts,  and  a  company  of  rangers  on  the 
Connecticut  River.  The  mihtia  was  divided  into  twelve 
regiments,  out  of  which  fom-  regiments  of  minute  men  were 
enlisted  —  so  called  because  they  were  to  be  ready  to  march 
at  a  minute's  warning.  When  called  into  ser\dce,  they 
were  allowed  the  same  pay  as  soldiers  of  the  continental 
army. 

While  most  of  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  espoused 
the  cause  of  liberty,  there  were  some  who  still  clung  to  the 
royal  government.  Against  these  —  who  were  called  tories 
—  a  most  violent  resentment  was  excited.  Some  were  im- 
prisoned ;  others  fled  to  Nova  Scotia  or  to  England,  or 
joined  the  British  army  at  Boston.  Others  who  remained 
were  restricted  to  certain  limits  and  their  motions  watched. 
Jealousy,  hatred,  and  revenge  were  um-estrained.  Al- 
though many  lamented  these  excesses,  there  was  no  effect- 
ual remedy.  The  courts  of  justice  were  closed,  and  all  the 
restraints  of  former  authority  were  broken.  Yet  much 
was  accomplished  in  the  maintenance  of  order  by  the  ex- 
ample of  the  leading  men  and  by  the  moral  sense  of  the 
people. 

The  convention  which  assembled  at  Exeter  in  May,  1775, 
was  chosen  for  a  period  of  six  months.  During  this  time 
they  established  post  offices,  and  appointed  a  committee  of 
safety,  which  was  considered  as  the  chief  executive.  Be- 
fore their  adjournment  they  called  a  new  convention,  agree- 
ably to  the  recommendation  of  Congress,  designed  to  secure 
a  more  general  representation  of  the  people.  This  conven- 
tion met  on  the  21st  of  December,  and  proceeded  to  form 
a  temporary  government.     Having  assumed  the  name  of 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  73 

House  of  Representatives,  they  chose  twelve  persons  to  be 
a  distinct  branch,  called  the  Council,  with  power  to  elect 
their  own  president.  It  was  ordained  that  no  act  should 
be  valid  unless  passed  by  both  branches ;  that  all  money 
bills  should  originate  with  the  House  of  Representatives ; 
that  the  secretary  and  other  public  officers  should  be  chosen 
by  the  two  houses ;  and  that  the  present  assembly  should 
continue  one  year ;  and  if  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain 
should  continue,  precepts  should  be  issued  annually  jto  the 
several  towns,  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of  November,  for 
the  choice  of  councillors  and  representatives,  unless  Con- 
gress should  direct  otherwise.  No  pi'ovision  was  made  for 
an  executive  branch ;  but  during  their  session  the  two 
houses  performed  the  duty  of  this  department  of  govern- 
ment. At  their  adjournment  a  committee  of  safety  was  ap- 
pointed to  sit  in  the  recess.  The  president  of  the  council 
was  president  of  this  committee.  To  this  responsible  office 
Meshech  Weare  was  annually  elected  during  the  war,  and 
was  also  appointed  judge  of  the  Superior  Court.  Such  was 
the  confidence  of  the  people  in  him  that  they  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  invest  him  with  the  highest  legislative,  executive, 
and  judicial  authority  at  the  same  time. 

Congress  having  ordered  several  vessels  of  war  to  be 
built,  the  Raleigh,  a  frigate  of  thirty-two  guns,  was  launched 
at  Portsmouth,  and,  after  some  delay,  was  completed,  and 
joined  the  fleet  under  Commodore  Hopkins, 

Two  thousand  men  were  raised  for  the  services  of  1776, 
and  formed  into  three  regiments,  under  the  same  officers  as 
in  the  preceding  year.  A  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bedell, 
was  also  raised  in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  to  be  ready 
to  march  into  Canada.  The  three  regiments  under  Gen- 
eral Sullivan  were  sent  into  Canada  to  meet  and  succor  the 
army  which  had  been  despatched  against  Quebec  the  pre- 
7 


74  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

vious  year,  and  was  now  retreating  before  a  superior  force 
of  the  enemy.  Sullivan  met  tkem  at  the  mouth  of  the  So- 
rel,  and  took  the  command  —  General  Thomas,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, having  fallen  a  victim  to  the  small  pox, 
which  had  broken  out  among  them.  Sullivan  conducted 
the  retreat  with  great  prudence.  It  was  computed  that 
nearly  one  third  of  the  New  Hampshire  soldiers  perished  by 
sickness.  The  remainder  joined  the  army  under  Washing- 
ton, and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton. 

The  declaration  of  independence*  was  hailed  with  joy 
by  the  people.  Within  fourteen  days  it  was  published  by 
beat  of  drum  in  all  the  shire  towns  of  the  colony,  which 
now  took  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

For  the  campaign  of  1777  three  regiments  were  raised 
in  this  state,  and  put  under  the  command  of  Colonels  Jo- 
seph Cilley,  Nathan  Hale,  and  Alexander  Scammell.  The 
officers  were  appointed  by  Congress  for  the  war,  and  the 
men  were  enlisted  either  for  that  time  or  for  three  years. 
They  rendezvoused  at  Ticonderoga,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Brigadier  General  Poor.  They  remained  at 
this  place  until  the  approach  of  the  British  under  Burgoyne 
rendered  it  advisable  for  them  to  retreat.  Hale's  battalion 
was  ordered  to  cover  the  rear  of  the  invalids,  which  brought 
him  seven  miles  behind  the  main  body.  On  the  second 
morning  he  was  attacked  by  a  party  of  the  enemy  at  Hub- 
bardtown.  A  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  Major  Titcomb  was 
wounded ;  and  Colonel  Hale,  Captains  llobertson,  Carr, 
Norris,  and  three  other  officers,  Avith  about  one  hundred 
men,  were  taken  prisoners.  The  main  body  of  the  army 
retreated  to  Saratoga.     During  their  progress  a  skirmish 


*  This  was  signed,  in  behalf  of  New  llauipskire,  by  Josiah  Bartlett,  Wil- 
Uam  Whipple,  and  Matthew  Thurntun. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  75 

took  place  at  Fort  Anue,  iu  Avhich  Captain  Weare,  sou  of 
the  president,  Avas  mortally  wounded,  and  died  soon  after 
at  Albany. 

The  approach  of  Bm-goyne  compelled  the  people  of  Ver- 
mont to  ask  for  assistance.  The  committee  of  safety  at 
Exeter,  to  whom  they  had  applied,  called  together  the  as- 
sembly, and  in  three  days  decisive  measures  were  taken  for 
the  defence  of  the  country.  The  militia  of  the  state  was 
formed  into  two  brigades — one  commanded  by  William 
Whipple,  the  other  by  John  Stark.  A  portion  of  each  was 
ordered  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  western  frontier.  Stark 
joined  the  Vermont  forces  under  Colonel  Warner,  then  as- 
sembled twenty  miles  north  of  Bennington.  Burgoyne, 
leai-ning  that  the  provincials  had  a  large  quantity  of  pro- 
visions at  Bennington,  despatched  Colonel  Baum,  with 
about  fifteen  hundred  men,  to  seize  them.  Some  of  the  In- 
dians who  preceded  the  main  body  being  discovered  about 
twelve  miles  from  Bennington,  Stark  sent  Colonel  Gregg, 
with  two  hundred  men,  to  oppose  them.  Hearing  that  a 
body  of  regular  troops  was  advancing,  he  marched  with  his 
whole  brigade  to  support  Gregg,  whom  he  met  on  the  re- 
treat. When  he  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy  he  drew  up 
his  men  in  full  view,  but  they  declined  an  engagement. 
He  then  withdrew  about  a  mile  and  encamped.  The  next 
day  being  rainy  he  kept  his  position,  but  sent  out  detach- 
ments to  skirmish  with  the  enemy.  On  the  morning  of  the 
16th  of  August  his  force  was  increased  by  a  company  of 
militia  from  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.  He  had  now 
about  sixteen  hundred  men.  In  the  afternoon  he  moved 
to  the  attack.  After  two  hours'  hard  fighting,  the  enemy 
were  completely  routed.  While  the  militia  Avere  dispersed 
in  search  of  plunder,  the  reenforceiuents  sent  to  the  aid  of 
Baum  arrived  and   attacked  them.     Fortunately  Colonel 


76  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

"Warner,  with  his  regiment  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  met 
the  enemy.  Stark  rallied  his  forces,  and  the  victory  was 
complete. 

In  the  arrangement  of  general  officers  for  the  preceding 
year,  a  junior  officer  had  been  promoted  over  Stark,  who 
thereupon  retired  from  the  army,  and  was  now  acting  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  New  Hampshire  assembly.  When 
the  news  of  the  victory  reached  Congress,  although  they 
had  previously  censured  his  movements  as  destructive  of 
military  subordination,  they  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  him, 
and  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  a  brigadier  general. 

The  army  under  General  Gates  was  increased  by  the 
mihtia  of  the  neighboring  states.  Colonel  Whipple,  with 
a  large  part  of  his  brigade,  joined  him ;  while  volunteers 
from  every  part  of  the  state  flocked  to  his  standard.  In  the 
battles  of  Stillwater  and  Saratoga  the  New  Hampshire 
forces  took  a  conspicuous  part.  The  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne  with  all  his  army  soon  followed.* 

The  scene  of  war  was  then  transferred  to  the  south.  In 
the  battle  of  Monmouth  a  part  of  tlie  New  Hampshire  brig- 
ade, under  Colonel  Cilley  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dear- 
bom,  were  closely  engaged,  and  behaved  with  such  bravery 
as  to  receive  the  particular  approbation  of  Washington. 
The  following  winter  they  were  encamped  at  Reading. 

In  1779  General  SulHvan  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  an  army  of  four  thousand  men  designed  to  go  up  the 
Susquehannah  River  and  attack  the  Seneca  Indians.  The 
New  Hampshire  brigade  formed  a  part  of  the  forces.  The 
expedition  was  carried  on  with  great  judgment  and  intre- 
pidity. Several  engagements  took  place,  in  which  the  In- 
dians were  worsted.     After  their  return  they  rejoined  the 

•  October  17, 1777. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  77 

main  array,  and  passed  the  winter  at  Newtown,  Connecti- 
cut. 

In  the  following  year  the  New  Hampshire  regiments 
were  stationed  at  West  Point,  and  afterwards  marched  to 
New  Jersey,  where  General  Poor  died.  The  winter  was 
spent  in  a  hutted  cantonment  near  the  Hudson  River,  at  a 
place  called  Soldier's  Fortune.  At  the  close  of  the  year 
the  three  regiments  were  reduced  to  two,  which  were  com- 
manded by  Colonels  Scammell  and  George  Reid.  In  1781 
a  part  of  them  went  to  Virginia,  and  were  present  at  the 
capture  of  CornAvallis.  Here  the  brave  Colonel  Scammell 
fell.  They  were  afterwards  quartered  at  Saratoga  and  on 
the  Mohawk  River,  until  the  return  of  peace  secured  the 
independence  of  the  United  States. 

The  temporary  constitution  adopted  at  the  beginning  of 
the  war  had  so  many  defects  that  in  1779  a  convention  of 
delegates,  chosen  for  this  purpose,  drew  up  a  new  system 
of  government.  It  was  submitted  to  the  people,  and  reject- 
ed. Another  convention  met  in  1781,  and  continued  for 
two  years.  They  at  length  proposed  a  constitution,  which 
was  adopted  June  2,  1784.  The  essential  features  of  it 
are  retained  in  our  present  constitution. 

Sixteen  towns  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  refused  to 
send  delegates  to  this  convention,  on  the  ground  that  the 
war  had  dissolved  all  allegiance  to  a  superior  jurisdiction, 
and  that  each  town  had  a  right  to  govern  itself  as  an  inde- 
pendent municipal  corporation.  They  petitioned  to  the  as- 
sembly of  Vermont  to  be  admitted  into  their  state,  which 
was  granted.  This  led  to  a  long  controversy,  which  was 
finally  settled  by  Congress.  Vermont  was  required  to  give 
up  her  claim  to  the  revolted  towns  as  a  requisite  to  her  ad- 
mission into  the  Union.  This  was  done,  and  the  people 
returned  to  their  former  allegiance. 
7* 


78  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

The  revolutionary  war  left  the  country  deeply  in  debt. 
Congress  had  no  power  to  establish  a  system  of  imposts, 
and  consequently  heavy  taxes  were  levied  on  polls  and  es- 
tates. This,  in  connection  with  other  circumstances,  pro- 
duced a  season  of  distress  and  suffering,  from  which  New 
Hampshire  did  not  escape.  The  assembly  did  what  they 
could  to  relieve  the  people,  and  urged  them  to  diligence 
and  economy  as  the  only  effectual  remedy.  But  this  seemed 
too  slow  a  process  to  those  who  were  suffering  the  combined 
ills  of  excessive  taxation  and  poverty.  Some  imagined  that 
the  establishment  of  a  paper  currency  would  free  them  from 
all  their  embarrassments,  and  for  this  they  became  clamor- 
ous. As  the  numerical  strength  of  the  party  increased, 
they  increased  their  demands.  Some  went  so  far  as  to  re- 
quire an  abolition  of  debts  and  an  equal  distribution  of 
property.  The  excitement  rose  to  such  a  pitch  that  in 
1786,  while  the  assembly  was  sitting  at  Exeter,  about  two 
hundred  persons  assembled  at  Kingston,  and  proceeded  to 
the  seat  of  government,  armed  with  guns,  swords,  clubs, 
and  scythes,  and  demanded  an  answer  to  their  petitions. 
The  president,  General .  John  Sullivan,  stated  the  reasons 
why  the  assembly  could  not  comply  with  their  wishes. 
Meanwhile  the  members  of  the  assembly  were  held  as  pris- 
oners, the  mob  having  placed  sentries  at  the  doors,  and 
threatened  death  to  any  one  who  should  attempt  to  escape 
before  their  demands  were  granted.  But  early  in  the  even- 
ing some  of  the  citizens  of  Exeter  beat  a  drum  at  a  dis- 
tance, while  others  cried,  '<  Huzza  for  the  government ! 
Bring  out  the  artillery! "  The  insurgents  then  fled  in  dis- 
order. The  next  morning  the  militia  were  assembled  from 
the  neighboring  towns,  and  took  about  forty  of  the  rioters 
prisoners,  of  whom  all  but  six  were  dismissed.  These, 
with  two  others  who  were  apprehended  afterwards,  were 


HISTOUICAL    SKETCH.  79 

required  to  recognize  for  their  appearance  at  the  next  su- 
perior court,  Avhen  their  bonds  were  discharged.  The  firm 
and  prudent  course  of  the  government  had  its  desired  effect, 
and  thenceforth  no  active  opposition  was  made. 

The  articles  of  confederation  adopted  by  Congress  in 
1778  were  found  inadequate  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
United  States.  In  1787  a  convention  of  delegates  met  at 
Philadelphia  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new  constitution, 
in  which  all  the  states  were  represented  except  Rhode  Isl- 
and. After  long  and  careful  deliberation,  the  results  of 
their  labors  were  imbodied  in  the  instrument,  which,  with 
some  slight  amendments,  forms  the  present  basis  of  our 
national  government. 

When  the  new  constitution  was  presented  to  this  state 
for  adoption,  various  objections  were  raised.  A  conven- 
tion was  called  at  Exeter  to  consider  it,  in  February,  1788. 
After  a  debate  of  ten  days,  they  adjourned  for  four  months. 
In  the  mean  time  the  proposed  constitution  had  been  freely 
discussed  among  the  people,  an4  had  continued  to  gain 
their  approbation.  At  the  second  meeting  of  the  conven- 
tion, it  was  ratified  at  the  close  of  a  session  of  three  days. 
New  Hampshire  was  the  ninth  state  which  accepted  it ; 
and  thus  the  number  necessary  to  put  it  in  operation  was 
completed. 

Having  brought  our  "Historical  Sketch"  down  to  the 
time  of  the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution,  we  leave 
the  subject.  From  that  time  New  Hampshire  has  steadily 
progressed  in  wealth,  population,  and  all  that  adds  to  the 
comfort  of  civilized  life.  That  she  may  ever  prosper,  must 
be  the  fervent  wish  of  every  true  son  of  the  Granite  State. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AS  IT  IS. 

TART    II. 
A     GAZETTEER 

OF  THE 

STATE    OF    NEW     HAMPSHIEE ; 

CONTAINING 

A   PARTICULAR  DESCRIPTION    OF  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS, 
CITIES,  VILLAGES,  MOUNTAINS,   RIVERS,   LAKES, 

REMARKABLE    CURIOSITIES,    .VUNERAL    LOCALITIES; 
TOGETHER   WITH  SEVERAL 

VALUABLE  STATISTICAL  TABLES. 


THE  BOUNDARY   ANU  AREA  OP  THE  STATE,  AND  A  GENERAL  VIEW 
OP  THE  COUNTIES,  BOTH  HISTORICAL  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL 

■      BT 

GEORGE    TICKNOR. 
8  (81) 


.'.^"^ 


PREFACE   TO   THE   GAZETTEER. 


The  design  of  this  portion  of  the  present  work  is 
to  give  as  minute,  accurate,  and  reliable  a  descrip- 
tion of  all  the  cities  and  towns  in  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  as  the  marked  and  constant  changes 
incident  to  rapid  increase  of  population  in  some 
places,  and  the  ever-varying  tide  of  business  in  its 
almost  innumerable  departments,  every  where,  will 
admit.  The  geographical  position  of  each  town,  its 
geological  features,  as  well  as  w^hatever  is  interest- 
ing in  its  mineralogy,  have  been  as  carefully  and 
fully  described  as  the  means  at  our  command  would 
enable  us  to  do.  From  several  towns  we  have  had 
no  reply  to  inquiries  which  we  have  made  at  differ- 
ent times.  It  would  not  be  surprising,  therefore, 
if  in  such  cases  we  may  not  have  succeeded  in  giving 
as  full  an  account  as  actual  facts  might  warrant. 
To  undertake  to  enumerate  every  styore,  tavern,  grist 
mill,  saw  mill,  and  shop  would  be  useless  and  unim- 
portant. We  have  not  specified  the  various  officers, 
physicians,  attorneys,  and  clergymen  in  the  several 
towns,  because  information  of  all  these  facts,  annu- 
ally corrected,  is   given   in   Lyon's   very  valuable 

(83) 


84  PREFACE. 

Register,  to  which  we  have  frequently  resorted  for 
aid  in  our  labors.  For  the  description  of  the  towns 
in  Hillsborough  county  we  are  greatly  indebted  to 
Mr.  J.  R.  Dodge  for  the  free  use  of  his  "  Hillsbor- 
ough County  Records."  We  have  also  referred  to 
Jackson's  Geological  Report  of  New  Hampshire, 
Farmer  and  Moore's  Gazetteer  of  New  Hampshire 
for  1822,  Historical  Collections,  and  the  Reports  of 
the  treasury  and  other  state  departments. 

A  general  view  of  the  several  counties,  including 
the  history  and  topography  of  each,  with  statistical 
tables,  containing  a  variety  of  important  and  useful 
matter,  is  also  given  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this 
work. 

We  take  this  opportunity  to  express  our  sincere 
acknowledgments  to  our  correspondents  generally, 
many  of  whom  have  furnished  us  with  the  matter 
sought  for  at  no  slight  sacrifice  of  time  and  expense. 
In  a  work  of  this  kind,  a  claim  to  the  merit  of 
originality  would  be  simply  absurd.  Diligence 
and  care  in  arranging  in  proper  order  what  has 
already  been  before  the  public  eye  in  some  form, 
together  with  the  material  furnished  us  from  va- 
rious sources,  are  perhaps  more  than  should  be 
awarded  to  us. 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

BOUNDARY,  AREA,  POPULATION,  AND  GENERAL 
STATISTICS   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

[The  population  and  general  statistics  of  the  state  are  given  according  to  the 
census  of  1850.  The  population  of  the  several  towns  -will  be  regarded  as 
given  according  to  the  same  census  unless  the  particular  year  is  mentioned. 
The  statistical  account  of  each  town  is  given  for  the  year  1852  —  which  is 
the  latest  inventory  made  by  state  authority  —  unless  a  different  period  is 
stated.] 

BOUNDARY,  AREA,  &c. 

New  Hampshire  is  bounded  north  by  Canada  East,  east 
by  Maine,  south-east  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  Massachu- 
setts, south  by  Massachusetts,  west  and  north-west  by  Ver- 
mont. It  is  situated  between  42°  40'  and  45°  16'  north 
latitude,  and  70°  35'  and  72°  27'  longitude  west  from 
Greenwich,  or  5°  30'  and  6°  15'  longitude  east  from  Wash- 
ington. 

Its  extreme  length  is  168  miles ;  greatest  width,  90 
miles ;  which  is  from  the  easternmost  point  in  the  town  of 
Rye,  due  west,  to  Connecticut  River.  North  of  latitude  43° 
it  gradually  decreases  in  width,  and  at  its  northern  extrem- 
ity is  only  19  miles  wide.  This  state  includes  an  area  of 
9280  square  miles,  or  5,939,200  acres,  about  100,000  acres 
of  which  are  covered  with  water. 

The  State  of  New  Hampshire  is  divided  into  10  coun- 
8  (85) 


86 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


ties  and  232  towns,  including  Hart's  and  Wentworth's  Lo 
cations,  besides  several  grants  and  the  public  lands.     Of 
the  towns,  3  were  incorporated  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I., 

1  during  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  2   under  William  III., 

2  under  Queen  Anne,  15  under  George  I.,  37  under  George 
n.,  86  under  George  III.,  and  86  under  the  state  govern- 
ment. The  average  ratio  of  increase  of  population,  from 
1790  to  1850  inclusive,  is  about  15  per  cent.,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  following  table  :  — 


1730 10,200 

1740, 15,000 

1755, 30,000 

1767, 52,000 

1775 82,000 

1790, 141,855 


1800, 183,858 

1810, 214,460 

1820, 244,161 

1830, 269,633 

1840 284,574 

1850 317,964 


TABULAR    VIEW. 


AGRICULTURAL   PRODUCTIONS. 

Atres  of  land  improved  in  year  1850, 2,251,388 

Value  of  fanning  implements  and  machinery, 52,314,125 

Value  of  live  stock, ^8,871,901 

No.  bushels  wheat  raised 185,658 

"       Indian  corn, 1,573,670 

pounds  of  wool 1,108,476 

butter, 6,977,056 

"  cheese 3,196,563 

"  maple  sugar, 1,292,429 

tons  of  hay, 598,854 


ARTICLES  OF  MANUFACTURE. 

COTTON   GOODS. 

Capjtel  invested  in  year  1854 ,911,950,600 

No.  establishments  in  operation, 66 

Bales  of  cotton  used  annually, 93,026 

No.  hands  employed  —  males,  3,511 ;  females,  10,711, 14,222 

Average  wages  per  month  —  males,  ^26,00  ;  females,  §13,47, ;S39,47 

Value  of  products, §9,830,619 

Yards  sheeting,  Ac, 116,106,247 


• 
% 


GAZETTEEB   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE-  87 


WOOLLEN  GOODS. 

Capital  invested 52,437,700 

No.  establishments  in  operation, 61 

Pounds  of  wool  used, 3,604,103 

Value  of  raw  material 51,267,329 

No.  hands  employed  —  males,  926;  females,  1,201, ....2,127 

Average  wages  per  month  — males,  522,87;  females,  14,63, 537,40 

Value  of  products 52,127,745 

Yards  of  cloth  manufactured 9,712,840 

Founds  yam, 165,200 

PIG   IRON. 

No.  establishments  in  operation 1 

Capital  invested, 52,000 

Tons  ore  used, 500 

Value  of  raw  material,  fuel,  &c., 54,900 

No.  hands  employed, 10 

Average  wages  per  month, 518,00 

Tons  pig  iron  made, 200 

Value  of  products, 56,000 

CASTINGS. 

No.  establishments  in  operation, 26 

Capital  invested, 5232,700 

Tons  pig  iron,  5,673 ;  do.  old  metal,  500, 6,173 

Tons  mineral  coal,  1,680;  do.  coke  and  charcoal,  20,500 22,180 

Value  of  raw  material,  fuel,  &c., 5177,060 

No.  hands  employed, 374 

Average  wages  per  month 533,05 

Tons  castings  made 5,764 

Value  of  products, 5391,910 

BANKS. 

No 36 

Amount  of  capital  invested, 53,416,000 

Bmtibb  statb  valuation, 5113,627,285 


« 
^ 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TOWNS,  CITIES,  VILLAGES,  &c 

AcwoRTH,  Sullivan  county,  13  miles  south  from  New- 
port, and  44  west  from  Concord.  Cold  River,  which  takes 
its  rise  from  Cold  Pond,  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town, 
is  the  only  stream  of  any  note.  It  affords  several  good 
inill  seats,  which  are  used  mainly  in  the  manufacture  of 
^uch  articles  as  are  needed  for  home  consumption.  The 
soil  is  strong,  and  in  general  well  cultivated.  This  town 
is  somewhat  celebrated  on  account  of  the  large  crystals  of 
^][)eryl  which  have  been  found  within  its  limits.  Specimens 
of  these  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  mineral  cabinet 
throughout  the  world.  Dr.  Jackson  informs  us  that  one  of 
these  beryls,  8  inches  in  diameter,  was  shown  him  in  the 
imperial  cabinet  of  Vienna,  and  was  highly  valued. 

The  town  was  granted,  September  19,  1766,  to  Colonel 
Samuel  Stoddard  and  64  others.  In  1768  it  was  settled 
by  William  Keyes,  Samuel  Hooper,  and  John  Rogers,  who 
removed  thither  with  their  families.  During  the  first  years 
of  the  settlement  its  progress  was  but  feeble,  and  it  was  not 
until  1771  that  there  were  inhabitants  enough  to  fill  the 
usual  offices  of  a  town. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  March  12, 
1773.  First  settled  minister.  Rev.  Thomas  Archibald, 
who  was  settled  November  11,  1789,  and  dismissed  June 
14,  1794.  Rev.  John  Kimball  succeeded,  and  was  settled 
June,  1797  ;  dismissed  May,  1813. 

(88) 


X 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  <39 

Population  iu  1850,  1251.  Number  of  polls  in  1852, 
278.  Amount  of  inventory,  $411,041.  Number  of  sheep, 
^317.     Do.  neat  stock,  1542.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  314. 

Albany,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  east  by  Conway, 
south  by  Tamworth,  west  by  Waterville,  north  by  ungrant- 
ed  lands.  Distance  from  Concord,  75  miles.  Its  principal 
stream  is  Swift  River,  which  passes  through  the  town  in  a 
westerly  direction,  and  empties  into  the  Saco  in  Conway. 
There  are  numerous  small  streams,  which  evidently  were 
inhabited  in  great  numbers  by  otter  and  beavers.  It  in- 
cludes many  lofty  hills  and  mountains,  the  highest  of  which 
is  called  Chocurua,  from  an  Indian  of  that  name,  who  was 
killed  on  its  summit  by  a  party  of  white  hunters  who  had 
chased  him  liither.  Before  he  was  killed  he  pronounced 
the  curse,  well  known  in  song,  upon  his  pursuers,  their 
posterity,  habitations,  and  possessions. 

The  prosperity  of  the  town  has  been  considerably  retard- 
ed by  a  remai'kable  disease,  which  almost  entirely  prevents 
the  raising  of  neat  stock.  Its  peculiarities  are  a  loss  of  ap- 
petite, costiveness,  contraction  of  the  abdomen,  followed  in 
a  few  days  by  powerful  evacuations,  by  which  the  animals 
are  rapidly  reduced  and  soon  die.  Superstition  and  tradi- 
tion point  to  the  curse  of  Chocorua  as  the  cause  ;  but  the 
better  supposition  is,  doubtless,  that  it  is  owing' to  certain 
properties  contained  in  the  water,  or  perhaps  the  soil. 
Science  will,  we  trust,  ere  long,  point  out  the  cause  of  the 
evil  which  so  much  injures  and  atflicts  man  and  beast. 

This  town  was  granted  in  1766  to  Clement  March  and 
others,  under  the  name  of  Burton.  Population,  455.  Num- 
ber of  polls,  95.  Amount  of  inventory,  $68,927.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  178.  Do.  neat  stock,  383.  Do.  horses  aad 
^mules,  42. 

8* 


90  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

Alexandria,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  He- 
bron, east  by  Bristol,  south  by  Hill,  and  west  by  Danbury. 
30  miles  north  from  Concord.  A  small  portion  of  New- 
found Lake  is  within  the  limits  of  this  town.  Smith's  and 
Fowler's  Rivers  are  the  principal  streams.  This  town  con- 
tains about  2000  acres  of  valuable  interval  land,  which 
bears  every  appearance  of  having  been  once  covered  by 
Newfound  Lake.  Beneath  the  soil,  which  is  from  1  to 
20  feet  in  depth,  is  a  layer,  or  stratum,  of  white  sand 
and  coarse  gravel,  embedded  in  which  are  found  stumps, 
and  even  whole  trees,  in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  preserva- 
tion. Also  at  this  depth  are  discovered  traces  of  beaver 
dams.  In  the  more  elevated  portions  of  the  town  the  land 
is  generally  moist,  and  possesses  a  strength  and  fertility  of 
soil  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  wheat,  potatoes,  and  the 
grasses.  In  the  westerly  part  of  the  town  is  Cardigan 
Mountain,  which  forms  the  boundary  between  Alexandria 
and  Orange.  Its  base  and  sides  are  compact,  rugged,  and 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  of  various  kinds. 
Its  summit  is  divided  into  two  peaks,  consisting  of  granite, 
and  destitute  of  vegetation.  Its  elevation  is  5000  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Another  curious  geological  fact 
is  the  appearance  at  the  outlet  of  Newfound  Lake.  About 
20  feet  above  the  present  bed  of  the  stream  are  distinct 
marks  of  the  bed  of  a  former  stream,  which  can  be  traced 
to  Pemigewassctt  River.  This  town  was  granted,  March 
13,  1767,  to  Joseph  Buttcrfield,  Jr.,  and  others.  It  was 
incorporated  November*23,  1782.  It  was  first  settled  in 
December,  1769,  by  Jonathan  Corliss,  John  M.  Corliss, 
and  William  Corliss.  In  1821  its  territorial  limits  were 
diminished  by  the  annexation  of  a  large  tract  to  New  Ches- 
ter, now  Hill,  A  Congregational  church  was  formed  in 
the  year  1788.  Rev.  Enoch  Whipple  was  the  first  settled 
minister.     He  was  dismissed  in  1794. 


'  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  91 

Population,  1273.  Number  of  polls,  267.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $280,055.  Number  of  sheep,  1691.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1278.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  166. 

Allenstown,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Epsom,  east  by  Deerfield  and  Candia,  south  by  Hooksett, 
west  by  Pembroke.  Distant  from  Concord  1 1  miles.  The 
land  is  generally  of  an  ordinary  quality,  though  there  are 
some  excellent  farms.  It  was  formerly  well  timbered  with 
oak  and  pine,  considerable  quantities  of  which  yet  remain. 
The  town  is  well  watered  by  numerous  small  streams. 
Great  Bear  Brook  furnishes  the  principal  water  power. 
Prom  Catamount  Hill,  the  highest  land  in  town,  are  ob- 
tained large  quantities  of  fine  granite.  At  the  east  end  of 
the  hill  is  a  precipice  of  70  feet,  nearly  perpendicular.  At 
the  foot  of  the  precipice  is  a  cavern  of  considerable  depth. 
This  town,  although  granted  at  an  early  period  in  the  set- 
tlement of  New  Hampshire,  was  not  incorporated  until 
1831.  The  first  settlers  were  John  Wolcott,  Andrew 
Smith,  Daniel  Evans,  Robert  Buntin,  and  others.  In  1748 
Mr.  Buntin  and  son,  in  company  with  James  Carr,  while 
at  work  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Merrimack  River,  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Suncook,  were  surprised  by  a 
party  of  Indians. 

Carr,  attempting  to  escape,  was  immediately  shot  down. 
Buntin  and  his  son  made  no  resistance.  They  were  taken 
through  the  wilderness  to  Canada,  and  sold  to  a  French 
merchant  at  Montreal.  Here  they  remained  about  eleven 
months,  when,  a  favorable  opportunity  presenting  itself, 
they  made  their  escape,  and  reached  home  in  safety.  The 
son,  when  the  revolutionary  war  broke  out,  enlisted  in  the 
army,  and  died  in  defence  of  his  country  at  White  Plains, 
in  October,  1776. 


• 


08  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS.  m 

Population,  526.  Number  of  polls,  114.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $146,531.  Number  of  sheep,  226.  Do.  neat 
stock,  325.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  63. 

Alstead,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Acworth, 
east  by  Mario w,  south  by  Gilsum,  and  west  by  Walpole. 
It  is  12  miles  south-east  from  Charlestown,  and  56  west 
from  Concord.  It  is  well  watered  by  several  small  streams. 
Cold  River  passes  through  the  north-west  part,  and  some 
of  the  branches  of  the  Ashuelot  take  their  rise  here.  War- 
ren's Pond,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  abounds  with  pick- 
erel, perch,  and  several  other  kinds  of  fish.  The  soil  is 
strong  and  fertile.  There  are  5  meeting  houses  and  1 
academy  in  this  town.  A  paper-mill  establishment,  with  a 
capital  of  $7000,  does  a  flourishing  business. 

There  are  several  small  manufacturing  establishments  of 
various  kinds  ;  all  of  which  are  in  prosperous  operation,  and 
give  an  air  of  business  and  enterprise  to  this  pleasant  vil- 
lage. Alstead  was  formerly  called  Newton,  and  was  grant- 
ed, August  6,  1763,  to  Samuel  Chase  and  others.  In  1771 
there  were  25  families,  besides  10  bachelors  who  cultivated 
their  lauds  and  prepared  their  own  meals.  The  first  Con- 
gregational church  was  organized  in  1777.  Rev.  Jacob 
Mann,  the  first  pastor,  Avas  settled  in  February,  1782 ;  dis- 
missed in  1789.  Rev.  Samuel  Meade  was  settled  in  1791 ; 
dismissed  in  1797. 

General  Amos  Shepard,  for  many  years  a  member  of 
the  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire,  and  president  of 
the  Senate  seven  years,  was  a  resident  of  this  town,  and 
was  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens  from  1777  to  the 
time  of  his  decease  in  1812.  Upright  and  just  in  all  his 
dealings,  he  secured  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who 
knew  him.     Industrious,  persevering,  and  economical,  he 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  93 

acquired  a  handsome  fortune,  which  enabled  him  to  pass  his 
last  days  in  ease  and  quiet. 

Population,  1425.  Number  of  polls,  336.  Amount  of 
inventory,  )^529,420.  Number  of  sheep,  5731.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1384.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  348. 

Alton,  Belknap  county.  Bounded  north  by  Winnipi- 
seogee  Lake,  east  by  New  Durham,  south  by  Barnstead, 
west  by  Gilmanton.  22  miles  north-east  from  Concord, 
and  25  north-west  from  Dover.  The  surface  of  the  land  is 
rough  and  uneven ;  the  soil  is  hard  and  rocky,  but  produc- 
tive. The  timber  growth  is  principally  oak,  beech,  maple, 
and  pine.  There  are  still  a  few  lots  of  the  latter,  but  the 
enterprise  of  the  lumber  dealer  is  fast  lessening  the  quan- 
tity of  salable  pine.  The  principal  elevation  is  Mount 
Major.  There  is  a  large  swell  of  land  called  Prospect 
Hill,  affording  excellent  grazing  nearly  to  its  summit,  from 
which,  in  a  clear  day,  the  ocean  may  be  seen.  There  are 
several  small  ponds  Avithin  the  limits  of  the  toAvn.  Merry 
Meeting  Bay,  a  part  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  extends  south- 
erly about  2000  rods  into  the  town,  where  it  receives  the 
waters  of  Merry  Meeting  River.  There  are  at  present  7 
stores,  3  hotels,  5  shoe  manufactories,  from  which  about 
300,000  pairs  of  shoes,  boots,  &c.,  arc  sent  annually  to  mar- 
ket. It  also  contains  2  grist  mills,  7  saw  mills,  2  of  Avhich 
are  propelled  by  steam  power.  Cars  run  from  this  place 
to  Dover,  Boston,  &c.,  3  times  a  day,  and  connect  with 
steamboat  on  Winnipiseogee  Lake.  This  town  was  former- 
ly called  New  Durham  Gore.  It  was  settled  in  1770  by 
Jacob  Chamberlain  and  others.  It  was  incorporated  Janu- 
ary 15,  1796,  and  named  Alton,  by  one  of  its  principal  pro- 
prietors,  from  a  town  of  the  same  name  in  England.  A 
Freewill  Baptist  church  was  formed  here  in  1805. 


94  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT    IS. 

Population,  1795.  Number  of  polls,  564.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $618,583.  Number  of  sheep,  1407.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1947.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  309. 

Amherst,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
New  Boston,  east  by  Merrimack,  south  by  Hollis,  west  by 
Mount  Vernon.  28  miles  from  Concord,  47  from  Boston. 
Area,  22,432  acres.  It  is  the  shire  town  of  Hillsborough 
county,  and  is  situated  on  the  Souhegan  River,  a  tributary 
of  the  Merrimack.  There  are  also  several  small  streams 
and  ponds  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  The  soil  is,  in 
some  portions  of  the  town,  of  an  excellent  quality.  There 
are  some  fine  hill  farms.  The  county  buildings  and  several 
of  the  dwelling  houses  of  the  village  arc  situated  on  a  plain 
extending  about  one  half  mile  north  and  south,  and  the 
same  distance  east  and  west. 

There  is  a  chalybeate  mineral  spring  about  one  and  a  half 
miles  east  of  the  meeting  house,  which  is  resorted  to  occa- 
sionally by  invalids.  Bog  iron  ore  is  found  in  considerable 
quantities  in  this  tOAvn.  There  is  also  a  bed  of  limestone 
of  a  valuable  quality.  Amherst  is  underlaid  by  granite,  so 
far  as  can  be  observed  around  the  margin  of  the  valley  in 
which  the  village  is  situated.  This  valley  seems  to  be 
formed  of  a  deposit  of  silicious  sand  derived  from  an  an- 
cient drift  from  the  north,  the  valley  itself  presenting  the 
appearance  of  having  been  once  a  great  basin.  A  printing 
press  was  established  here,  in  1795,  by  Nathaniel  Coverly. 
The  first  weekly  newspaper,  called  the  Amherst  Journal 
and  New  Hampshire  Advertiser,  was  published  from  Janu- 
ary, 1795,  to  January  of  the  following  year.  The  Village 
Messenger  was  commenced  January  6,  1796,  and  discontin- 
ued December  5,  1801.  The  Farmer's  Cabinet  was  first 
published  November  10,  1802,  and  has  continued  to  the 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  95 

present  time.  The  publication  of  the  Hillsborough  Tele- 
graph commenced  in  January,  1820,  and  continued  about 
a  year  and  a  half. 

This  town  was  granted  by  Massachusetts,  in  1733,  to  the 
persons  then  living,  and  the  heirs  of  those  not  living,  who 
had  served  in  the  Narraganset  war  of  1675.  It  was  first 
named  Narraganset  Number  Three,  afterwards  Souhegan 
West.  Several  of  the  proprietors  were  natives  of  Salem, 
Massachusetts.  The  first  settlement  was  in  the  year  1734, 
by  Samuel  Walton  and  Samuel  Lampson.  In  1741  the 
settlement  consisted  of  14  families.  It  was  incorporated 
January  18,  1760,  under  the  name  of  Amherst,  as  compli- 
mentary to  Lord  Jeffrey  Amherst,  an  English  general  in 
America  during  the  French  war.  A  Congregational  church 
was  organized  here  September  22,  1741,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  Kev.  Daniel  Wilkins  was  ordained  and  settled  as 
pastor.  Rev.  Nathan  Lord,  D.  D,,  president  of  Dartmouth 
College,  was  ordained  as  a  colleague  with  Rev.  Mr.  Bar- 
nard, May  22,  1816. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Amherst  worthy  of  notice  may 
be  mentioned  Hon.  Moses  Nichols,  who  held  the  rank  of 
colonel  under  General  Stark  in  the  battle  of  Bennington. 
He  was  one  of  the  councillors  under  the  new  constitution. 
Hon.  Samuel  Dana,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  and  a  classmate 
of  the  renowned  statesman  and  patriot  John  Adams,  was 
judge  of  probate  several  years  in  the  county  of  Hillsbor- 
ough, was  state  senator,  and  an  eminent  lawyer.  Hon. 
William  Gordon  was  state  senator  in  1794,  representative 
to  Congress  in  1796,  and  attorney  general  in  1801.  Hon. 
Robert  Means,  a  native  of  Stewartstown,  in  Ireland,  came 
to  America  in  1764.  By  his  industry  and  close  applica- 
tion he  soon  acquired  a  large  fortune.  He  was  three  years 
a  representative  to  the  General  Court,  was  state  senator  the 


HW  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

saitie  number  of  years,  and  in  1786  was  councillor  for' 
Hillsborough  county.  Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton  was  a 
son  of  Hon.  Joshua  Atherton,  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1794,  was  eminent  and  successful  as  a  lawyer,  held 
the  office  of  register  of  probate  for  the  county  of  Hillsbor- 
ough 39  years,  was  a  representative  to  Congress  in  1815 
and  1816.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than 'ordinary  talent, 
was  upright  and  honest,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  his^ 
•countrymen.  Through  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by' 
the  public,  as  well  a^  by  reason  of  his  untiring  industry  and 
application,  he  accumulated  a  large  property.  Hon.  Jede- 
diah  K.  Smith  filled  the  offices  of  councillor  and  state  sen- 
ator. 

Population,  1613.  Number  of  polls,  318.  Amount  of 
inventory,  |549,728.  Number  of  sheep,  398.  Do.  neat' 
stock,  1271.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  278. 

Andover,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Hill, 
east  by  Franklin,  south  by  Salisbury,  west  by  Wilmot. 
Distance  from  Concord,  21  miles,  north-west.  Area, 
29,883  acres.  The  Blackwater  is  the  principal  stream  in 
this  town.  There  are  several  ponds,  the  largest  of  which 
ar6  Loon  and  Chance  Ponds.  The  water  comprising  these 
ponds  is  remarkably  pure,  and  the  scenery  about  both,  es- 
pecially Chance  Pond,  is  picturesque  and  charming.  A 
beautiful  view  may  be  had  of  this  pond  in  passing  over  the 
Northern  Railroad  some  two  miles  above  Franklin  village. 
Perch  and  pickerel  are  taken  in  great  abundance  here. 
The  surface  of  the  town  is  uneven,  and  in  some  parts  rocky 
and  sterile.  The  soil  in  many  localities  is  strong,  aild,  with' 
careful  cultivation,  is  productive.  Ragged  Mountain,  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town,  is  an  eminence  well  described 
by  its  name.     There  is  a  flourishing  academy  in  this  to-wn, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  97 

which,  from  its  healthy  and  quiet  location,  affords  excellent 
advantages  for  the  student. 

Andover  was  granted  in  1746  to  Edmund  Brown  and 
others.  It  was  first  called  Ncav  Breton,  in  honor  of  the 
captors  of  Cape  Breton  in  1745.  In  1779  it  was  incorpo- 
rated under  its  present  name.  The  first  inhabitant  was  Jo- 
seph Fellows,  who  moved  into  the  place  in  1761.  In  1782 
a  Congregational  church  was  organized,  under  the  Rev.  Jo- 
siah  Badcock  as  pastor.  Dr.  Jacob  B.  Moore,  a  poet  of 
some  eminence,  was  a  resident  of  this  town.  The  famous 
juggler  and  necromancer.  Potter,  was  a  citizen  of  Andover. 
The  place  where  he  resided  may  be  seen  at  the  "  Potter 
Place,"  a  station  on  the  Northern  Railroad. 

Population,  1220.  Number  of  polls,  300.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $378,272.  Number  of  sheep,  222.  Do.  neat 
stock,  325.  Do.  horses  and  mules,  63.  Value  of  im- 
proved and  unimproved  lands,  $125,466. 

Antrim,  Hillsborough  count}'.  Bounded  north  by 
Hillsborough,  east  by  Deering,  south  by  Hancock,  and 
west  by  Stoddard.  30  miles  south-west  from  Concord. 
Area,  21,743  acres.  Contoocook  River  passes  through  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  in  the  vicinity  of  Avhich  are  valu- 
able tracts  of  alluvial  land.  The  town  is  generally  hilly, 
though  the  soil  is  productive  and  well  cultivated.  Upon 
North  Branch  River,  a  stream  formed  by  the  confluence  of 
several  smaller  streams  from  ponds  in  Stoddard,  are  some 
excellent  mill  seats,  and  along  its  course  are  small  tracts  of 
interval.  The  western  portion  of  the  town  affords  a  fine 
range  for  grazing.  The  town  derives  its  name  from  a  town 
of  the  same  name  in  Ireland.  It  was  first  settled  by  Dea- 
con James  Aiken,  in  1768.  Four  years  passed  away  before 
another  person  moved  into  the  place.  During  these  years 
9 


98  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

of  solitude  he  suffered  many  privations  and  hardships,  ow- 
ing to  the  want  of  neighbors.  This  town  was  incorporated 
March  22,  1777.  Population,  1143.  Number  of  polls, 
278.  Amount  of  inventory,  1384,209.  Number  of  sheep, 
980.  Do.  neat  stock,  1415.  Do.  horses  and  mules,  268. 
Value  of  improved  and  unimproved  lands,  $229,534. 

Atkinson,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Hampstead,  east  by  Plaistow,  south  by  Haverhill,  Massa- 
chusetts, west  by  Salem.  30  miles  south-west  from  Ports- 
mouth, and  36  south-east  from  Concord.  Area,  6839 
acres.  The  surface  is  uneven,  but  the  soil  is  superior. 
The  apple  has  for  many  years  been  carefully  cultivated, 
and  fruit  of  the  most  delicious  quality  is  produced.  This 
town  comprises  a  portion  of  the  lands  conveyed  November 
15,  1642,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Pcntuckett,  (New  Haver- 
hill,) by  the  Indians.  The  deed  was  signed  by  two  sa- 
chems, Possaquo  and  Saggahew,  with  the  consent  of  their 
chief,  Passaconnaway.  When  the  dividing  line  between 
this  state  and  Massachusetts  was  settled,  the  tract  compris- 
ing Plaistow  fell  within  the  limits  of  this  state,  and  Atkin- 
son, on  account  of  difficulties  respecting  the  location  of  a* 
meeting  house,  was  set  off  from  Plaistow,  and  incorporated 
September  3,  1767,  under  its  present  name,  in  honor  of 
Theodore  Atkinson,  a  large  land  owner,  and  for  many  years 
secretary  of  state. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  about  1728  by  Benjamin 
Richards,  of  Rochester,  in  this  state,  and  Jonathan  and  Ed- 
mund Page  and  John  Dow,  from  Haverhill,  Massachusetts. 
The  academy  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respectable  insti- 
tutions in  the  state,  having  been  incorporated  in  1791.  The 
buildings  belonging  to  this  institution  are  situated  about 
two   miles   from   the   Boston  and   Maine   Railroad.      The 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  99 

grounds  of  the  location  are  very  elevated  and  pleasant,  the 
village  healthy  and  quiet.  In  a  large  meadow  in  this  town 
is  an  island,  containing  six  or  eight  acres,  which  has  been 
said  to  exhibit  phenomena  of  a  remarkable  nature.  When 
the  meadow  is  overflowed  by  means  of  a  dam,  the  island 
has  been  known  to  rise  in  the  same  degree  as  the  water 
rises,  which  has  been  as  high  as  six  feet.  The  fact  of  such 
a  floating  island  was  noticed  by  Dr.  Belknap,  and  has  since 
been  certified  to  by  reliable  persons. 

Popxdation,  600.  Number  of  polls,  151.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $210,151.  Number  of  sheep,  44.  Do.  neat 
stock,  499.  Do.  horses  and  mules,  TO.  Value  of  im- 
proved and  unimproved  lands,  $144,106. 

Auburn,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Can- 
dia,  east  by  Chester,  south  by  Londonderry,  and  west  by 
Manchester.  It  is  about  5  miles  distant  from  the  latter 
town,  23  from  Concord,  and  42  from  Boston.  It  was 
originally  a  part  of  Chester,  and  was  incorporated  in  1845. 
Massabesic  Pond  is  the  largest  body  of  water  in  the  coun- 
ty, comprising  an  area  of  about  1500  acres.  It  consists  of 
two  nearly  equal  divisions,  each  about  3  miles  in  length 
and  from  200  to  400  rods  in  breadth,  each  part  being  imit- 
ed  by  a  strait  some  250  rods  in  length,  and  in  some  places 
very  narrow.  The  soil  in  general  is  strong  and  productive, 
especially  the  large  swells  of  land.  There  is  in  this  town, 
on  the  westerly  side  of  "  Devil's  Den  "  Mountain,  a  large 
cave,  extending  into  the  hill  in  a  northerly  direction,  near- 
ly to  the  centre.  The  entrance  is  about  five  feet  in  height 
and  two  and  a  half  in  width.  It  is  divided  into  numerous 
apartments,  several  of  which  are  14  feet  square.  It  varies 
in  height  from  2  to  15  feet.  This  has  been  explored  on 
several  occasions ;   and  those  who  have  been  more  minute 


100  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

in  their  examinations  report  that,  after  having  gone  Us  far 
as  possible,  there  is  still  another  opening,  too  small  to  ad- 
mit the  body  of  a  man,  which  communicates  with  a  large 
apartment,  from  which  openings  are  discovered  leading  in 
various  du'ections.  The  rocks  which  compose  the  walls  of 
this  cave  seem  to  consist  mainly  of  gneiss,  and  in  some 
places  possess  a  slight  taste  of  alum.  In  the  summer  sea- 
son, the  Massabesic  Lake,  or  Pond,  furnishes  a  pleasing  and 
attractive  resort  for  the  pleasure  seeker  as  well  as  the  quiet 
student  of  Nature.  The  scenery  around  is  varied  and  de- 
lightful. The  lake  is  interspersed  with  numerous  islands, 
some  of  which  are  covered  with  a  thick,  heavy  growth  of 
pine  timber,  affording  no  slight  inducement  to  the  hunter ; 
while  the  waters  abound  with  pickerel,  perch,  and  trout. 
Lumbering  is  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  in  this 
town.  There  are  10  sawmills,  which  in  the  aggregate  fur- 
nish annually  about  1,600,000  feet  of  lumber.  The  shoe- 
making  business  is  also  quite  extensive,  45  being  engaged 
constantly  in  this  department  of  industry.  There  is  also 
an  edge-tool  manufactory,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000,  giv- 
ing employment  to  10  men;  also  a  steam  mill,  which  em- 
ploys 6  hands. 

Population,  810.  Number  of  voters  in  1854,  210. 
Amount  of  inventory  in  1852,  |237,009.  Number  of 
sheep,  310.  Do.  neat  stock,  588.  Do.  horses  and  mules, 
107.     Value  of  improved  and  unimproved  lands,  $157,460. 

Barnstead,  Belknap  county.  Bounded  north  by  Alton, 
east  by  Strafford,  south  by  Pittsfield,  and  west  by  Oilman - 
ton.  20  miles  north-east  from  Concord.  Area,  26,000 
acres.  The  land  lies  principally  in  large  swells,  furnishing 
ejteellent  grazing;  while  tlie  soil  is  easily  cultivated,  and 
yields  a  rich  reward  to  the  industrious  husbandman.     There 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  101 

axe  several  ponds  in  to^vn,  the  largest  of  which  are  the 
Suncook,  the  Brindle,  and  Half  Moon  Ponds.  These  wa- 
ters abound  with  fish.  Plumbago,  bog  iron  ore,  and  yel- 
low ochre  are  found  in  various  localities  throughout  the 
town.  Specimens  of  basaltic  trap  rock  are  also  discovered 
near  the  way  from  this  town  to  Pittsfield.  This  town  was 
granted,  May  20,  1727,  to  Rev.  Joseph  Adams  and  oth- 
ers. Settlements  commenced  in  1767.  A  Congregational 
church  was  organized,  August  5,  1804,  with  Rev.  Enos 
George  as  pastor.  Elder  David  Knowlton  was  settled 
over  the  Freewill  Baptist  society  in  1804.  The  "Social 
Library"  was  incorporated  in  1807,  and  still  continues  to 
flourish. 

Population,  1848.  Number  of  polls,  525.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $590,979.  Number  of  sheep,  1360.  Do. 
horses  and  mules,  330.  Value  of  improved  and  unim- 
proved lands,  $397,032. 

Barrington,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Rochester,  east  by  Madbury  and  Lee,  south  by  Notting- 
ham, and  west  by  Strafford.  Distance  from  Concord,  30 
miles  east.  Surface  broken  and  rocky  ;  soil  generally  a 
gravelly  loam.  There  are,  however,  several  elevations, 
termed  oak  ridges,  which  contain  a  rich,  sandy  loam  and 
hazel  mould,  and  are  easily  tilled,  as  well  as  productive. 
There  are  within  the  limits  of  this  town  13  ponds,  each  of 
considerable  magnitude,  from  which  flow  streams  affording 
many  very  good  water  privileges.  In  Isinglass  River  is  a 
perpendicular  fall  of  30  feet,  which  furnishes  a  constant 
supply  of  water  for  an  extensive  manufxctory.  The  rock 
in  this  town  is  principally  granite,  in  which  quartz  predom- 
inates. In  some  of  the  rocks  beautiful  and  perfect  speci- 
mens of  quartz  crystals,  and  in  others  tourmaline,  are 
9* 


I 


103  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT    IS. 

found.  Bog  iron  ore  may  be  obtained  in  considerable 
quantities. 

There  is,  about  two  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  a 
cavern  of  some  note.  The  entrance,  upon  the  side  of  a 
hill,  is  large  enough  to  admit  a  person  in  a  stooping  pos- 
ture. You  pass  along  about  5  or  6  feet  in  a  horizontal  di- 
rection ;  after  which  you  descend  about  the  same  distance, 
at  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  through  sj)ace  barely  large 
enough  to  admit  a  common-sized  man.  Having  forced 
yourself  through  this  narrow  passage,  you  find  yourself  in 
a  capacious  hall,  60  feet  in  length,  from  12  to  15  in  height, 
and  from  4  to  10  in  width.  Leading  from  this  are  several 
other  fissures,  of  too  small  compass  to  admit  of  exploration. 

There  are  in  this  town  three  meeting  houses  —  one  Con- 
gregational, one  Freewill  Baptist,  and  one  Methodist. 
First  settled  minister,  Eev.  Joseph  Prince,  in  1755.  The 
town  was  incorporated  May  10,  1722.  Settlement  com- 
menced 10  years  after.  It  originally  included  the  town  of 
Strafibrd  in  its  limits,  comprising  an  area  of  54,380  acres. 
In  1820  about  29,120  acres,  somewhat  more  than  half  the 
town,  was  taken  to  form  the  town  of  Strafibrd. 

Population,  1754.  Number  of  voters  in  1854,  475. 
Amount  of  inventory,  $517,075.  Number  of  sheep,  1041. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1633.  Do.  horses  and  mules,  254.  Value 
of  improved  and  unimproved  lands,  {j^ 3 18, 142. 

Bartlett,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Jackson, 
east  by  Chatham,  south  and  west  by  ungranted  lands. 
Latitude  44°  4'  north.  Distance  from  Lancaster,  45  miles, 
south-east,  and  from  Concord,  75,  north-east.  It  lies  at 
the  foot  of  the  White  Mountains,  and  contains  about  13,000 
acres.  The  surface  is  uneven,  and  in  some  places  rocky. 
The    soil    is   various ;    on    tlie    Saco   River,   which  winds 


GAZKTTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE,  103 

through  the  middle  of  the  town,  it  is  very  good.  This 
town  was  incorporated  June  16,  1790,  and  received  its 
name  in  honor  of  Governor  Bartlett.  It  contains  numerous 
small  streams,  in  which  trout  are  abundant.  Baldface 
Mountain,  a  rugged  eminence  in  the  north-east  part  of  the 
town,  is  said  to  contain  inexhaustible  quantities  of  iron  ore 
of  the  best  quality,  from  which  steel  of  a  fine  quality,  suit- 
able for  cutlery,  miglit  be  manufactured.  The  surrounding 
country  is  densely  covered  with  hard  wood,  suitable  every 
way  for  the  manufacture  of  charcoal,  insuring  an  abundant 
supply  for  smelting  the  ore. 

Population,  761.  Number  of  polls,  163.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $150,613.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  un- 
improved, $91,138.  Number  of  sheep,  661.  Do.  neat 
stock,  712.     Do.  horses,  82. 

Bath,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lyman,  east 
by  Landaft",  soul^  by  Haverhill,  and  west  by  Ryegate,  Ver- 
mont. Distance  from  Dartmouth  College,  42  miles,  north- 
east ;  from  Concord,  82,  north-west.  This  town  is  pleas- 
antly situated  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  River,  be- 
tween the  Green  ]\Iountains  on  the  west  and  •  the  White 
Mountains  on  the  east,  and  thus  protected  from  high  winds 
and  long  storms.  The  Ammonusuc  River  waters  the  south- 
erly part  of  the  town,  affording  numerous  and  excellent 
water  privileges.  At  Bath  village  is  a  bridge  across  the 
Ammonusuc,  372  feet  in  length.  The  Wliite  Mountain 
Railroad  passes  under  the  west  end  of  this  bridge.  At  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  town,  Gardner's  ]Mountain  rises  in 
bold  ascent  from  the  confluence  of  Connecticut  and  Am- 
monusuc Rivers,  and  extends  in  a  northerly  direction 
through  the  whole  toAvn,  thus  separating  the  inhabitants, 
who    find    communication    almost    impossible,    excepting 


104  .  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

through  a  single  pass  in  the  mountain.  On  this  mountain 
are  traces  of  argentiferous  galena  in  very  small  veins. 
The  rocks  are  principally  granite,  argillaceous  slate,  and 
flint.  In  several  localities  large  veins  of  copper  ore  have 
been  opened  -within  a  few  years,  which  appear  to  be  abun- 
dantly worthy  of  being  wrought.  The  soil  on  the  hills  is 
a  reddish  loam,  resting  upon  a  bed  of  marl.  In  the  valleys 
the  soil  is  alluvial.  Brick  clay,  of  excellent  quality,  is 
abundant.  About  one  sixth  pait  of  the  town  consists  of  in- 
terval land.  Bath  is  one  of  the  best  agricultural  towns  in 
the  state,  much  and  careful  attention  having  been  devoted 
for  many  years  to  that  department  of  labor.  There  is  in- 
vested in  factories  and  mills  of  various  kinds  from  $12,000 
to  $15,000. 

Bath  was  granted,  September  10,  1761,  to  llev.  Andrew 
Gardner  and  61  others.  The  conditions  of  this  charter  not 
having  been  complied  with,  it  was  rechartered  in  March, 
1769,  to  John  Sawyer  and  others.  Tho^  first  settlement 
was  made  in  1765  by  John  Herriman,  from  Haverhill, 
Massachusetts.  In  the  succeeding  year  Moses  Pike  and 
Sawyer  commenced  settlements.  A  Presbyterian  church 
was  formed  in  1778,  and  dissolved  in  1791,  when  a  Congre- 
gational church  was  organized,  embracing  19  members. 
Rev.  David  Sutherland,  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  was  in- 
stalled in  1805.  The  present  number  of  members  is  126. 
Pastor,  Thomas  Boutelle. 

Population,  1514.  Number  of  polls,  363.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $464,531.  Value  of  improved  and  unimproved 
lands,  $255,434.  Number  of  sheep,  4348.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1830.     Do.  liorses  and  mules,  384. 

Bedford,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Goffstown,  east  by  Merrimack  Kivcr,  which  separates  it 


GAZETTKER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  105 

• 

from  Manchester,  south  by  Merrimack,  and  west  by  Mount 
Vernon  and  New  Boston.  Distance  from  Concord,  21 
miles,  south ;  from  Manchester,  8.  Area,  20,000  acres. 
In  the  west  part  of  the  town  the  land  is  uneven  and  strong  ; 
but  the  soil,  though  hard,  is  warm  and  productive.  The 
eastern  part  is  a  rich  interval  of  the  Merrimack.  In  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town  is  a  gulf  and  precipice,  which  are 
regarded  as  interesting  curiosities  of  Nature.  A  small  riv- 
ulet plunges  over  the  precipice,  falling  200  feet  in  a  dis- 
tance of.  100  yards.  Excavations  in  solid  stone  are  found 
here  large  enough  to  contain  several  persons.  Apparently 
there  are  three  ponds  in  this  town ;  though  their  Avaters  are 
probably  united  beneath  an  extensive  bog,  which  floats  upon 
the  surface,  and  rises  and  falls  with  the  water.  This  town 
abounds  in  mineralogical  specimens.  Several  varieties  of 
uon  ore  are  found  here.  Plumbago,  pyritous  copper, 
schorl,  hornblende,  epidote,  talc,  crystallized  quartz,  &c., 
are  also  found  in  various  localities. 

Bedford  was  granted  by  Massachusetts,  in  1733,  to  the 
officers  and  soldiers  and  the  surviving  heirs  of  those  de- 
ceased who  had  served  in  the  Narraganset  Avar.  The  num- 
ber of  grantees  was  120.  It  was  originally  named  Souhe- 
gan  East.  The  first  settlement  Avas  made  in  1737  by  Kob- 
ert  and  James  S.  Walker.  In  the  folloAving  year  Colonel 
John  Goff'e,  MatthcAv  Patten,  Esq.,  and  Captain  Samuel  Pat- 
ten were  added  to  the  settlement.  ScA'eral  of  the  early  set- 
tlers emigrated  from  the  northern  portion  of  Ireland.  The 
first  child  born  in  this  town  was  Silas  Barron,  son  of  Moses 
Barron,  A.  I).  1741.  The  toAvn  AA'as  incorporated  by  Gov- 
ernor Wcntworth  in  1750.  In  its  early  history  Bedford 
was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians.  In  1745,  one  James 
McQuade  and  Robert  Burns  had  been  to  a  neighboring 
town  to  purchase  corn,  and  on  theii'  return  McQuade  was 


106  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

killed  by  a  party  of  Indians  concealed  in  a  thicket  by  the 
path.  Burns,  by  running  in  a  zigzag  course,  confused  the 
enemy,  and  escaped  —  arriving  in  safety  to  his  family. 

On  tke  bank  of  the  river,  near  Goffe's  Falls,  is  a  plot  of 
ground,  about  10  rods  in  length  by  4  in  width,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  been  an  Indian  burying  ground.  The 
surface  is  level,  and  about  40  feet  above  the  river.  Human 
bones  have  been  washed  from  the  bank  by  the  river.  In 
1821,  Dr.  Woodbury,  in  company  with  others,  exhumed 
parts  of  three  skeletons  from  this  ground.  They  seem 
to  have  been  deposited  in  bark,  pieces  of  which  still 
remained.  One  appeared  to  have  been  buried  in  a  sitting 
posture.  Their  heads  lay  towards  the  south.  Upon 
the  head  of  one,  the  hair,  which  was  in  complete  preserva- 
tion, was  fastened  in  a  bunch  behind,  similar  to  the  manner 
observed  by  the  female  Indians  of  the  present  day.  A 
Presbyterian  church  was  formed  here  in  1757.  About  the 
same  time  Hev.  John  Houston  was  ordained  as  the  pastor, 
who  occupied  this  position  until  1778. 

Population,  1906.  Number  of  polls,  423.  Do.  houses, 
315.  Do.  families,  346.  Do.  farms,  226.  Value  of  lands, 
$527,642.     Stock  in  trade,  $16,305.    Valuation,  $756,512. 

Bennington,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Deering,  east  by  Francistown,  south  by  Greenfield,  and 
west  by  Hancock  and  Antrim.  This  is  a  small  township, 
taken  from  Deering,  Francistown,  Greenfield,  and  Hancock 
in  1842,  This  village  is  provided  with  better  manufac- 
turing facilities  than  almost  any  of  the  neighboring  towns. 
The  manufacture  of  cutlery  in  its  varieties  is  carried  on  to 
considerable  extent  by  Samuel  Baldwin  and  Amos  and  Alfred 
Whittemore,  who  employ  14  hands.  The  land  is  generally' 
uneven,  and  the  soil  moderately  productive. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  107 

The  people  are  industrious  and  enterprising.  Manu- 
facturing in  its  various  departments  constitutes  the  chief 
employment. 

Population,  541.  Number  of  polls,  117.  Do.  houses, 
109.  Do.  fiimilies,  121.  Do.  farms,  31,  Value  of  lands, 
$63,098.  Stock  in  trade,  $4800.  Factories,  $10,100. 
Valuation,  $1(35,229.  Number  of  sheep,  426.  Do.  neat 
stock,  375.     Do.  horses,  88. 

Benton,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Landaff, 
east  by  Woodstock,  south  by  Warren,  and  west  by  Haver- 
hill. 70  miles  north-west  from  Concord,  and  12  east  from 
Haverhill.  Area,  33,290  acres.  This  town  is  watered  by 
the  Oliverian  Brook  and  the  Wild  Ammonusuc  River.  In 
the  south-east  part  of  the  town  is  one  of  the  most  consider- 
able elevations  in  Grafton  county,  — •  Moosehillock  Mount, 
—  which  ranks  among  the  highest  mountains  in  the  state. 
Sugar  Loaf  and  Owl's  Head  Mountains  are  also  considerable 
elevations.  There  is  a  large  quantity  of  valuable  timber  in 
this  town,  ^^hich,  however,  is  being  rapidly  manufactured 
into  lumber.  The  town  presents  generally  a  rough  and 
mountainous  ajjpect,  and  the  land  in  many  portions  is  not 
capixble  of  cultivation.  There  are,  notwithstanding,  several 
well-cultivated  and  productive  farms.  On  Black  Mountain 
is  a  quarry  of  stone  very  much  resembling  Italian  marble,  and 
is  excellent  for  building.  The  Boston,  Concord,  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad  passes  through  the  south  part  of  the  town. 
Benton  was  granted  in  1764  to  Theophilus  Fitch  and 
others,  under  the  name  of  Coventry.  There  was  no  settle- 
ment, however,  until  after  the  revolutionary  war.  In  1790 
the  number  of  inhabitants  was  80. 

Population,  according  to  the  late  census,  478.  Num- 
ber   of   polls,    131.      Amount   of    inventory,   $110,795. 


108  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Value  of  land,  $52,620.     Number  of  sheep,   883.     Do. 
neat  stock,  485.     Do.  horses,  92. 

Berlin,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Milan,  east  by 
Success,  south  by  Shelburne,  Gorham,  and  Kandolph,  and 
west  by  Kilkenny.  140  miles  north  from  Concord,  and 
20  east  from  Lancaster.  Area,  31,154  acres.  Here  are 
several  small  ponds  and  streams.  The  Androscoggin,  pass- 
ing through  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and  the  Upper 
Ammonusuc  through  the  west,  are  the  largest  streams.  The 
former  stream  descends  some  200  feet  in  a  mile  or  two  :  and 
the  principal  fall,  worn  through  a  solid  rock,  is  a  remarkable 
curiosity.  There  are  3  large  sawmills  in  this  town  ;  2 
furnishing  employment  for  50  or  60  hands,  the  third 
about  40.  There  are  several  others,  employing  from  5  to 
10  men.  The  surface  is  broken  and  mountainous.  From 
some  of  the  elevations  distinct  and  beautiful  views  of  the 
White  Mountains  may  be  obtained. 

This  town  was  granted  in  1771  to  Sir  William  Mayne, 
baronet,  Thomas,  Robert,  and  Edward  Mayne,  and  others, 
from  Barbadoos.  Its  original  name  was  Maynesborough. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1829  under  its  present  name. 

Population,  173.  Number  of  polls,  51.  Valuation, 
$48,984.  Value  of  lands,  .$22,890.  Number  of  sheep, 
207.     Do.  neat  stock,  194.     Do.  horses,  25. 

Bethlehem,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  White- 
field,  east  by  Carroll  and  ungrantcd  lands,  south  by  Fran- 
conia  and  Lisbon,  and  west  by  Littleton.  Area,  28,608  acres. 
100  miles  north  from  Concord.  It  is  watered  by  Great 
Ammonusuc  and  Gale  Rivers.  The  principal  mountains 
are  the  Round  and  Peaked.  The  soil  produces  good  crops 
of  grass,  grain,  and  potatoes.     Specimens  of  magnetic  and 


GAZETTKER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  109 

bog  iron  ore  are  found  in  various  localities.  This  town 
was  settled,  in  1790,  by  Jonas  Warren,  Benjamin  Brown, 
James  Turner,  Thomas  Hatch,  John  Hatch,  Nathan  and 
Amos  Wheeler,  and  others,  and  incorporated  December  21, 
1799.  A  Congregational  church  was  organized  October  15, 
1802,  a  Baptist  church  in  1800,  and  a  Freewill  Baptist  in 
1813.  At  present  there  is  no  Baptist  church.  A  Meth- 
odist church  was  formed  a  few  years  since. 

Population,  950.  Number  of  polls,  191.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $199,285.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  un- 
improved, .*^  110,206.  Number  of  sheep,  884.  Do.  neat 
stock,  888.     Do.  horses,  148. 

BoscAWEN,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Salisbury  and  Franklin,  east  by  the  Merrimack  River, 
which  separates  it  from  Canterbury  and  Northfield,  south 
by  Concord  and  Hopkinton,  and  west  by  Warner.  Area, 
32,230  acres.  8  miles  from  Concord,  and  68  from  Boston. 
This  town  is  well  watered.  Merrimack  Iviver  touches  its 
eastern  border,  and  the  Blackwater  runs  through  the  whole 
extent  of  the  town  from  north  to  south,  parallel  with,  and 
about  5  miles  distant  from,  the  Merrimack.  The  latter 
stream  furnishes  numerous  water  privileges.  The  soil  is 
deep,  productive,  and  well  cultivated.  There  are  many 
farms  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Much  fruit  of  excel- 
lent quality  is  raised  here.  The  intervals  on  the  Merrimack 
are  of  considerable  extent.  The  plains  bordering  on  the 
intervals  have  a  soil  somewhat  lighter  and  less  fertile. 

Great  Fond  lies  near  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  is  about  1 
mile  in  length,  and  the  same  in  width.  Long  Pond,  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  is  about  2  miles  in  length,  and  half  a 
mile  in  width.  There  are  2  villages,  the  principal  of  which 
is  in  the  easterly  section  of  the  town,  known  as  Boscawen 
10 


11^ 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT    IS. 


Plain.  It  is  a  pleasant  village,  containing  some  elegant 
residences.  The  principal  street,  nearly  2  miles  in  length, 
is  well  shaded,  and  in  a  hot  summer  day  presents  an  invit- 
ing appearance.  Here  are  2  meeting  houses,  an  academy, 
and  2  hotels,  besides  several  stores.  The  other  village  is 
in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  situated  in  more  elevated 
land.  It  possesses  all  the  charms  of  a  quiet  rural  district, 
where  peace  and  comfort  prevail. 

Much  attention  is  paid  to  the  interests  of  education,  owing 
in  a  great  measure,  no  doubt,  to  the  untiring  and  successful 
labors  of  the  late  Samuel  Wood,  who  fitted  between  80  and 
90  young  men  for  college,  31  of  whom  became  ministers 
of  the  gospel.  This  town  was  granted  in  1733,  by  Massa- 
chusetts, to  John  Coffin  and  90  others,  who  held  their  first 
meeting  in  May  2  of  thiat  year. 

The  proprietors  gave  to  the  new  township  the  name  of 
Contoocook,  from  the  Indian  name  of  the  river.  In  1760, 
when  incorporated,  it  received  its  present  name  in  honor 
of  Sir  Edward  Boscawen,  an  English  admind  then  on  duty 
in  this  country.  The  first  settlement  was  made  early  in 
1734,  by  Nathaniel  Danforth,  Moses  Burbank,  Stephen 
Gerrish,  Edward  Emery,  and  a  few  others.  Abigail, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Danforth,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in 
this  town.  To  protect  themselves  against  the  inroads  of  the 
savages,  these  families  erected  a  log  fort,  100  feet  square 
and  10  feet  in  hei:=^ht,  near  the  meeting  house  on  King 
Street.  For  more  than  twenty  years  this  proved  a  sate 
and  commodious  garrison  for  all  the  inliabitants.  In  1746 
the  Indians  made  an  attack  upon  the  settlement,  killed  one 
Thomas  Cook  and  a  colored  man,  and  seized  and  carried 
away  captive  to  Canada  Elisha  Jones,  where  he  died. 

In  May,  1754,  Nathaniel  Melvon  and  family,  consisting 
of  himself,  wife,  and  five  children,  were  taken  captive  and 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  Ill 

hiurried  away  to  Canada,  from  whence  they  escaped  after  a 
servitude  of  more  than  three  years.  In  August  of  the 
same  year,  a  party  of  Indians  came  to  the  house  of  one 
Philip  Call,  where  they  killed  his  wife.  They  were  pur- 
sued, and,  secreting  themselves  in  ambush,  rushed  out  upon 
their  pursuers,  and  took  Enos  Bishop.  Timothy  Cook  at- 
tempted to  escape  by  plunging  into  the  river,  but  was  shot. 
In  1756  Ezekiel  Flanders  and  Edward  Emery  were  killed 
while  on  a  hunting  excursion  to  Newfound  Lake,  in  Nel- 
son. The  island  lying  at  the  mouth  of  Contoocook  River, 
within  the  limits  of  this  town,  named  Dustan's  Island,  was 
the  scene  of  the  heroic  deeds  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Dusfan, 
which  may  appropriately  be  noticed  here.  Mrs.  Dustan, 
her  inflint  babe,  only  a  week  old,  and  her  nurse  were 
taken  captive  by  the  Indians  at  Haverhill,  March  15,  1698. 
The  mother,  still  confined  in  bed,  was  forced  by  the  sav- 
ages to  rise  and  accompany  .them.  The  infant,  showing 
signs  of  uneasiness,  was  despatched  by  an  Indian,  who 
dashed  its  head  against  a  tree,  before  the  party  had  pro- 
ceeded far  from  the  place  of  capture.  They  conveyed  the 
mother,  feeble  and  exhausted,  and  the  nurse  up  the  Mer- 
rimack, and  halted  at  the  island  mentioned  above.  Here 
they  rested  for  a  while,  intending  soon  to  proceed  on  their 
way,  a  considerable  distance  farther  up  the  river,  to  an  In- 
dian town,  where  the  captives  were  informed  that  they 
would  be  compelled  to  run  the  gantlet  through  the  village. 
Aware  of  the  cruelties  that  awaited  her,  Mrs,  Dustan 
formed  a  determination  to  exterminate  the  whole  party, 
should  an  opportunity  present  itself  Her  companions  con- 
sisted of  her  nurse,  and  an  English  boy  who  had  been 
taken  from  "Worcester.  She  prevailed  upon  them  to  assist 
her  in  this  daring  enterprise. 

The  wishcd-for  time  was  close  at  hand.     The  Indians 


112  NEW    HAMPSHIRK    AS    IT    IS. 

having  refreshed  themselves  ou  this  island,  being  still  tired 
from  the  long  and  rapid  march,  and  apprehensive  of  no 
danger,  lay  down,  and  quickly  sank  into  a  profound  sleep. 
Mrs.  Dustan,  viewing  the  circumstance  as  favorable  to 
her  deliverance,  seized  upon  it  at  once.  By  the  aid  of  the 
nurse  and  boy,  with  the  deadly  Aveapous  of  her  brutal  cap- 
tors, she  despatched  ten  of  the  number.  Of  the  remaining 
two,  a  woman  made  her  escape,  and  a  boy  they  intentionally 
left.  Taking  the  scalps  of  the  slain,  and  one  of  their  birch 
canoes,  she  returiied  down  the  river  to  Haverhill  in  safety, 
to  the  joy  and  astonishment  of  her  friends. 

The  precise  time  when  the  church  was  formed  in  this 
place  has  never  been  ascertained.  Eev.  Phinehas  Stevens 
was  ordained  October  8,  17-40,  and  died  January  19,  1755  ; 
Rev.  Robie  Morrill  v/as  ordained  December  29,  1761,  and 
dismissed  December  9,  1766;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Merrill  was 
ordained  October  19,  1768,  and  dismissed  April  1,  1774  ; 
Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  D.  D.,  was  ordained  October  17,  1781, 
and  continued  in  charge  of  the  chiu'ch  for  more  than  fifty 
years.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boscawen  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  war  of  the  revolution. 

There  is  in  operation  at  the  present  time  1  cotton  mill, 
furnishing  employment  for  about  60  hands ;  1  woollen  fac- 
tory, which  produces  annually  about  100,000  yards  of 
cloth.  An  extensive  business  is  carried  on  in  the  manu- 
facture of  saws  of  various  descriptions,  which  have  thus 
far  proved  to  be  of  superior  quality.  About  450  persons 
are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes.  This  town  has 
a  fund,  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  of  f  1733. 

Population,  2063.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  558. 
Amount  of  inventory,  $737, 147.  Value  of  lands,  improved 
and  unimproved,  $449,500.  Number  of  sheep,  6095. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1585.     Do.  horses,  300.     Value  of  shares 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  113 

in  banks  and  other  corporations,  $13,900.  Value  of  facto- 
ries and  their  machinery,  $26,000.  Value  of  mills  and 
carding  machines,  $10,000. 

Bow,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Concord, 
east  by  Merrimack  River,  which  separates  it  from  Pembroke, 
south  by  Dunbarton,  and  west  by  Ilopkinton.  This  town 
is  situated  on  the  Concord  and  Nashua  Railroad.  8  miles 
south-east  from  Concord.  Area,  about  10,000  acres.  The 
surface  is  uneven ;  the  soil  hard,  but  productive.  Turee 
Pond  is  the  only  body  of  water  of  any  considerable  size. 
Turkey  River  dischai'ges  into  the  Merrimack  at  Turkey 
Falls,  in  the  north-easterly  part  of  the  town.  Bow  Canal 
is  situated  on  the  Merrimack,  3  miles  below  Concord.  It 
was  originally  constructed  at  a  cost  of  $13,860.  The 
first  church  organized  in  this  town  was  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  in  1795.  Two  years  after,  Rev.  Benjamin 
Sargent  was  ordained  as  its  pastor.  This  township  was 
granted.  May  20,  1727,  to  Jonathan  Wiggin  and  others,  and 
was  originally  laid  out  9  miles  square,  including  a  large 
portion  of  the  territoiy  which  now  belongs  to  Concord  and 
Pembroke. 

Population,  1055.  Number  of  polls,  218.  Valuation, 
$335,116.  Value  of  lands,  $223,274.  Number  of  sheep, 
422.     Do.  neat  stock,  946.     Do.  horses,  133. 

Bradfoki),  Merrimack  county.  Boimded  north  by 
Newbury  and  Sutton,  east  by  Warner,  south  by  Henniker 
and  Hillsboro\igh,  and  west  by  "Washington.  28  miles 
west  from  Concord.  Area,  19,000  acres,  nearly  500  of 
which  are  covered  with  water.  It  is  watered  by  several 
small  streams  which  issue  from  ponds,  the  largest  of 
which  is  Todd's  Pond,  lying  partly  in,  Bradford  and  partly 
10* 


114  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

in  Newbury.  In  this  pond  are  several  floating  islands, 
which  are  truly  objects  of  curiosity.  Bradford  Pond,  about 
550  rods  in  length  by  150  in  width,  lies  in  the  east  part 
of  the  town.  It  communicates  with  Warner  River  by  an 
outlet  at  its  northern  extremity.  This  pond  is  studded 
with  numerous  small  islands,  which,  with  the  rugged  de- 
scent of  the  eastern  bank,  the  clear  waters  below,  the  dwell- 
ings and  variegated  fields  on  the  western  shore,  present, 
in  the  summer  season,  a  wild  and  charming  scenery.  Many 
parts  of  the  town  are  rough  and  hilly.  A  large  portion, 
however,  consists  of  a  valley,  about  3  miles  in  width. 

The  terminus  of  the  Merrimack  and  Connecticut  River 
Railroad  is  in  the  village  of  this  town.  Near  the  Sunapee 
Mountains  is  an  extensive  plain,  more  than  1  mile  in  length, 
and  about  half  a  mile  in  width.  The  soil  is  various.  In 
some  places  it  is  a  rich  loam  ;  in  others,  light  and  sterile. 

In  the  easterly  part  are  valuable  stone  quarries.  This 
town  was  first  settled,  in  1771,  by  Deacon  William  Presbury 
and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  ten  children.  It 
was  incorporated  September  27,  1787,  and  included  a  part  of 
Washington.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in 
1803.  In  March,  1805,  Rev.  Lemuel  Bliss  was  ordained 
and  settled  as  its  first  minister. 

Population,  1341.  Number  of  polls,  307.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $404,376.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  un- 
improved, $'166,433.  Value  of  mills,  &c.,  |5466.  Stock 
in  trade,  $8000.  Number  of  sheep,  3096.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1529.     Do.  horses,  302. 

Brentw^ood,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Epping,  east  by  Exeter,  south  by  East  Kingston  and  King- 
ston, and  west  by  Poplin.  Area,  10,465  acres.  32  miles 
south-east  from  Concord,  and  4  east  from  Exeter.     The 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  115 

soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  grass  ;  and,  by  careful 
cultivation,  good  crops  of  most  of  the  cereal  grains  may  be 
produced.  Exeter  River  runs  through  the  entire  length 
of  the  town  on  the  southerly  side.  There  are  2  other 
small  streams  within  the  town  ;  one  called  Little  River,  and 
the  other  Deer  Hill  River  —  so  named  from  a  hill  in  its  vi- 
cinity which  Avas  a  favorite  resort  of  deer.  At  Pickpocket 
Falls,  on  Exeter  River,  are  several  saw  and  grist  mills  and 
1  large  paper  manufactory.  In  a  few  localities,  consider- 
able quantities  of  iron  ore  have  been  discovered.  Vitriol, 
combined  in  masses  of  sulphur,  has  also  been  found. 
This  town  was  incorporated  June  26,  1742.  A  Congrega- 
tional church  was  established  here  in  1752,  and  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Tuck  Avas  ordained  about  the  same  time ;  de- 
ceased in  1789.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Flint  was  his  successor, 
who  continued  in  charge  until  1811,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Chester  Cotton.  A  Baptist  society  was 
formed  here  in  1775. 

Population,  923.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  218. 
Valuation,  $310,576.  Value  of  lands,  $149,042.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  672.     Do.  neat  stock,  983.     Do.  horses,  130. 

Bridgewater,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Plymouth  and  Hebron,  east  by  Pemigewasset  River,  which 
separates  it  from  Iloldcrness  and  New  Hampton,  south  by 
Bristol,  and  west  by  Newfound  Lake,  which  divides  it  from 
Alexandria.  30  miles  north  from  Concord.  The  soil  is 
well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  in  this  respect  is  excelled  by 
few,  if  any,  towns  in  the  vicinity.  The  first  settlement 
was  made  in  1766,  by  Thomas  Crawford,  Esq.,  when  the 
tract  included  all  of  Hill,  Bridgewater,  and  Bristol.  A 
Congregational  church  was  organized  here  in  1817.  Previ- 
ous to  this  time,  the  inhabitants  who  were  inembers  of  that 


116  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

body  attended  public  worship  in  Hebron.  There  are  also 
societies  of  Baptists,  Freewill  Baptists,  and  Methodists. 
The  inhabitants  are  mainly  devoted  to  agriculture,  and 
are  an  industrious  and  sober  community.  This  town 
was    incorporated  February   12,   1788. 

Population,  670.  Number  of  polls,  145.  Amount 
of  inventory,  $144,378.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and 
unimproved,  $79,529.  Number  of  sheep,  1580.  Value 
of  neat  stock,  $13,890.     Do.  horses,  $3956. 

Bristol,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Bridge- 
water,  east  by  Pemigewasset  River,  which  separates  it  from 
New  Hampton,  south  by  Hill,  and  west  by  Alexandria. 
It  is  90  miles  from  Boston,  30  north  from  Concord,  and  16 
south  fiom  Plymouth.  Area,  9000  acres,  exclusive  of 
ponds.  The  surface  is  liilly  and  uneven,  but  the  soil  is 
in  general  very  good.  Newfound  Lake,  7  miles  long 
and  3  wide,  lies  partly  in  this  town,  and  partly  in  Bridge- 
water.  Its  waters  are  drained  by  a  river  of  the  same 
name,  about  2  miles  in  length  and  100  feet  in  width, 
into  Pemigewasset  River.  The  village  is  situated  near 
the  confluence  of  these  two  rivers.  Smith's  River,  which 
forms  the  southern  boundary  between  this  town  and  Hill, 
also  unites  with  the  Pemigewassit  near  this  place.  There 
are  some  excellent  water  privileges  on  these  streams,  near 
the  village,  upon  several  of  which  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments of  various  kinds,  and  generally  with  a  moderate 
capital,  have  been  erected. 

The  village  is  situated  on  a  plain  somewhat  irregular. 
The  neighboring  hills  arc  broken,  and  in  some  instances  of 
steep  and  rugged  ascent,  presenting  to  the  view  a  charming 
and  romantic  landscape.  The  village  itself  presents  an 
appearance    not  ,only   pleasing    and    attractive,   but    also 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  117 

thriving  and  prosperous.  Here  is  the  terminus  of  the 
Franklin  and  Bristol  Railroad,  which  connects  with  the 
Northern  at  Franklin.  Graphite  (plumbago)  has  been 
discovered  here  in  considerable  quantities  and  of  superior 
quality.  Bristol  was  taken  from  Bridgewater  and  New 
Chester,  (now  Hill,)  and  incorporated  June  24,  1819.  The 
first  settlement  within  its  present  limits  was  made  in  1770, 
by  Colonel  Peter  Sleeper,  Benjamin  Emmons,  and  others. 
A  Methodist  society  was  incorporated  and  a  church  organ- 
ized in  June,  1818.  There  are  at  present  Congregational, 
Methodist,  and  Freewill  Baptist  societies  and  churches  in 
this  to^v^l.  About  90  persons  are  employed  in  the  various 
manufactories. 

Population,  1103.  Number  of  polls,  300.  Amount 
of  inventory,  f  277,057.  Value  of  improved  and  unim- 
proved lands,  ^157,180.  Value  of  mills  and  carding 
machines,  $6900.  Value  of  factories,  $1/300.  Number 
of  sheep,  869.     Do.  neat  stock,  719.     Do.  horses,  134. 

Brookfield,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Wolf- 
borough  and  Wakefield,  east  by  Wakefield,  south  by  Mid- 
dleton,  and  west  by  Durham  and  Wolfborough.  Area, 
13,000  acres.  45  miles  north-east  from  Concord.  This 
tract  was  originally  a  part  of  Middleton,  from  Avhich  it  was 
taken  and  incorporated  in  1794.  The  soil  is  deep  and 
strong.  Cook's  Pond,  about  1  mile  long  and  three  fourths 
of  a  mile  in  width,  forms  the  source  of  the  next  branch  of 
Salmon  Fall  lliver,  and  is  the  only  body  of  water  of  note  in 
the  town,  excepting  a  small  pond,  covering  about  15  acres, 
which  is  situated  directly  on  the  top  of  Moose  Mountain. 
The  water  is  clear-  and  cool,  and  the  quantity  is  always  about 
the  same.  The  fii-st  settler  was  Nicholas  Austin.  The  pre- 
cise date  of  his  settlement  is  not  knoAvn,  though  it  was  some 


118  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

time  before  the  town  was  incorporated.  Eichard  Hanson,  a 
few  years  after  the  settlement  of  Austin,  erected  the  first 
framed  house  in  the  town. 

Population,  553.  Number  of  polls,  118.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $131,184.  Number  of  sheep,  344.  Do.  neat 
stock,  691.     Do.  horses,  105. 

Brookline,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Milford,  east  by  Hollis,  south  by  Townsend  and  Pepperell, 
in  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Mason.  Area,  12,664  acres, 
240  of  which  are  covered  with  water.  43  miles  north 
west  from  Boston,  35  south  from  Concord,  and  7  south  from 
Amherst.  The  Nisitissit  is  the  only  river  in  this  town. 
This  stream  rises  in  the  north-east  part  of  Mason,  and  runs 
in  a  southerly  direction  to  Potanipo,  or  Tanapus,  Pond. 
This  pond  is  situated  near  the  meeting  house,  and  is  about 
1  mile  in  length  and  one  third  of  a  mile  in  width.  This 
town  possesses  but  few  natural  resources  for  its  advance- 
ment in  wealth  and  population.  Agriculture  is  the  chief 
employment.  The  soil  in  some  parts  is  good ;  but  it  is 
often  hard,  sterile,  and  unproductive,  unless  cultivated  wit!" 
great  care. 

This  town  formerly  belonged  to  Massachusetts,  and  was 
included  in  the  Dunstable  grant.  It  was  incorporated 
Maich,  1769,  under  the  name  of  Eaby.  By  a  legislative 
act,  in  1798,  it  received  its  present  name.  A  Congrega- 
tional church  was  organized  here  in  1797.  Kev.  Lemuel 
Wadsworth  was  the  fii-st  minister. 

Population,  718.  Number  of  polls,  186.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $268,333.  Number  of  sheep,  78.  Do.  neat 
stock,  457.     Do.  horses,  113. 

Cambridge,  Coos  county.     Bounded  north  by  Errol  s^id 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  119 

Umbagog  Lake,  east  by  the  State  of  Maine,  south  by  Suc- 
cess and  Milan,  and  west  by  Dumraer.  Latitude  44°  57'. 
Area,  23,160  acres.  143  miles  north-east  from  Concord, 
and  35  north-east  from  Lancaster.  This  township,  granted^ 
in  1793,  to  Nathaniel  Rogers  and  others,  is  still  but 
thinly  inhabited.  The  surface  is  uneven ;  but  a  large 
portion  might  be  easily  cultivated.  The  soil  is  good. 
Several  streams  rise  in  this  town  and  fall  into  the  An- 
droscoggin. The  land  is  mostly  covered  with  a  dense, 
heavy  growth  of  wood,  a  large  part  of  which  is  maple ; 
though  pine,  spruce,  and  hemlock  grow  in  considerable 
quantities. 

Population,  33.     Number  of  polls,  10. 

Campton,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Thorn- 
ton, east  by  Sandwich,  south  by  Holderness  and  Plymouth, 
and  west  by  Rumney.  Area,  27,892  acres.  50  miles 
north  from  Concord,  and  14  from  Plymouth.  The  sur- 
face is  broken  and  uneven,  abounding  with  ledges,  and 
high,  rocky  hills.  Moimt  Prospect,  situated  in  the  souther- 
ly part  of  the  toAvn,  is  a  considerable  elevation.  From  its 
summit  a  delightful  view  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake  is  ob- 
tained, as  well  as  a  large  portion  of  the  southern  part  of 
the  state.  There  are  very  few  positions  from  whence  so 
good  a  view  of  the  lake  can  be  had.  The  distance  from  its 
summit  to  Plymouth  depot  is  only  4  miles.  .There  is 
in  the  easterly  part  of  the  toAvn  a  range  of  mountains 
designated  by  a  variety  of  names,  the  most  common  of 
which  is  Morgan  Mountain.  Pemigewasset  River  runs  in 
a  southerly  direction  nearly  through  the  middle  of  the 
town,  and  receives  the  waters  of  Mad,  Beebe,  and  West 
Branch  Rivers  on  the  east,  and  Bogbrook  on  the  west. 
The  soil  in  the  valleys  is  gcuerally  good.     There  is  also 


120  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

considerable  good  interval.  The  high  lands,  where  they 
are  not  too  rocky,  are  excellent  for  grazing.  The  forest 
trees  are  generally  deciduous ;  though  there  are  some  hem- 
lock, spruce,  and  pine.  Livermore's  Falls, in  Pemigewasset 
River,  near  the  south  part  of  the  town,  present  appearances 
of  a  striking  character.  The  formation  of  the  rocks  in  the 
bed  of  the  river,  at  this  point,  bears  conclusive  evidence  of 
volcanic  eruption.  Several  specimens  of  a  substance  bear- 
ing close  resemblance  to  lava  have  been  found  in  this  re- 
gion. In  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  plumbago  is  found 
in  large  quantities  and  of  good  quality.  Iron  ore  is  found 
in  a  few  localities,  but  of  rather  an  inferior  quality.  On 
the  top  of  the  mountain  range  referred  to,  very  fine  speci- 
mens of  crystallized  quartz  are  found.  From  20  to  30  tons 
of  maple  sugar  are  manufactured  in  this  town  annually. 
Campton  and  Rumney  were  included  in  the  same  grant 
to  Captain  Jabez  Spencer,  of  East  Haddam,  Connecticut, 
in  October,  1761 ;  but  in  consequence  of  his  death  before 
any  settlement  was  made,  his  heirs,  with  others,  obtained  a 
new  charter  in  1767.  The  first  settlement  was  made,  in 
1765,  by  two  families  of  the  names  of  Fox  and  Taylor. 
This  town  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  the  first 
proprietors,  when  they  went  to  survey  the  two  townships 
of  Campton  and  Rumncy,  built  a  camp  within  its  limits 
This  town  furnished  10  soldiers  for  the  army  in  the  revo- 
lutionary- war,  5  of  whom  died  in  the  service.  A  Congre- 
gational church  Avas  organized  here  in  1774.  Rev.  Selden 
Church  was  ordained  and  settled  as  pastor  in  October, 
1774  ;  dismissed  in  1792.  Rev.  John  Webber  was  in- 
stalled in  February,  1813;  dismissed  March  12,  1815. 
Rev.  Amos  Brown  was  ordained  and  settled  January  1, 
1817  ;  dismissed  in  1822.  At  present  there  are  3  meeting 
houses  in   the  town,  belonging  respectively  to   the   Con- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  121 

gregational,  Baptist,  and  Freewill  Baptist  denominations. 
There  is  1  woollen  factory,  giving  employment  to  about 
25  persdns.  There  are  also  2  shoe  establishments,  fur- 
nishing labor  for  30  or  40  persons.  The  amount  of  capital 
invested  in  the  various  manufacturing  departments  in  town 
is  estimated  at  $45,000. 

Population,  1439.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  350. 
Amount  of  inventory,  $335,096.  Value  of  lands,  im- 
proved and  unimproved,  $183,334.  Number  of  sheep, 
2484.     Do.  neat  stock,  1525.     Do.  horses,  280. 

Canaan,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dorches- 
ter, east  by  Oi-ange,  south  by  Enfield,  and  west  by  Hanover. 
Distance  from  Concord  40  miles,  north-west ;  from  Haver- 
hill 25,  south-west.  The  principal  stream  is  the  Mascomy 
River,  which,  rising  in  the  north-west  part  of  Dorchester, 
by  a  meandering  course  of  8  or  10  miles,  discharges  its 
waters  into  Mascomy  Pond,  in  Enfield.  Heart  Pond,  so 
named  from  its  peculiar  form,  lies  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  and  upon  such  an  elevation  of  land  that  at  a  distance 
it  has  the  appearance  of  a  sheet  of  water  on  a  hill.  It  is 
about  500  rods  in  length  and  200  in  Avidth,  and  is  nearly 
surrounded  by  a  bank,  or  rnound,  of  earth  from  4  to  5  feet 
in  height.  From  the  regularity  of  its  formation  and  its 
uniform  height,  it  has  every  appearance  of  a  work  of  art ; 
but,  from  a  series  of  observations,  it  is  found  to  be  produced 
by  the  drifting  of  ice  in  the  spring.  On  the  west  side  is 
the  village  known  as  Canaan  Street  —  a  very  pleasant  place. 
The  Northern  Railroad  passes  through  the  south-easterly 
portion  of  the  town.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  depot,  quite  a 
thriving  village  has  been  built  up  within  a  few  years. 
There  are  two  or  three  stores  here,  which  do  quite  an 
extensive  business.  The  land  throughout  the  town  pre- 
11 


1S2  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

sents  a  surface  more  even  aud  regular  than  that  of  several 
of  the  adjacent  towns.  The  soil  is  generally  deep  and 
fertile,  producing  excellent  potatoes  and  grass,  as  well  as 
the  cereal  grains.  Goose,  Clark,  Mud,  and  Bear  Ponds, 
Ijing  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  are  favorite  resorts  of 
the  fishermen,  while  numerous  brooks  are  well  stored  with 
trout. 

Canaan  was  granted  in  1761  to  62  persons,  all  except  10 
of  whom  were  from  a  town  of  the  same  name  in  Connecti- 
cuty  The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  the 
winter  of  1766,  by  John  Scotield,  who  conveyed  thither 
all  the  property  he  possessed  on  a  hand  sled,  a  distance  of 
14  miles,  on  the  snow  crust.  Others  of  the  first  settlers 
were  George  and  Joshua  Harris,  Thomas  Miner,  Samuel 
Jones,  and  Samuel  Meacham. 

The  first  church  organized  in  town  was  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  and.  was  formed  in  1780.  In  1783  Rev. 
Thomas  Baldwin,  D.  D.,  was  ordained  and  settled  over  it. 
He  continvied  in  the  pastoral  charge  of  this  church  until 
1790,  when  he  removed  to  Boston.  Many  difficulties  were 
encountered  in  the  establishment  of  this  church,  and  in 
some  instances  violent  opposition  was  manifested.  Dr. 
Baldwin  had  frequent  occasion  to  visit  Concord,  and  often 
performed  the  journey  on  foot  through  the  wilderness.  It 
was  during  one  of  these  solitary  walks  that  he  composed 
the  familiar  and  beautiful  stanzas  commencing  with,  — 

"  From  whence  doth  tliis  union  arise  ? " 

A  Congregational  society  was  incorporated  here  in  1820, 
and  Rev.  Charles  Calkins  ordained  as  pastor.  There  is 
also  a  respectable  Methodist  society  in  this  town.  Jonathan 
Dustan,  a  native  of  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  and  a  grand- 
son of  the  heroine  Mrs.  Hannah  Dustan,  was  for  some 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  l^S 

time  a  resident,  and  died  here  July  4,  1812,  aged  93. 
There  is  an  academy  pleasantly  located  in  Canaan  Street, 
which  from  its  healthy  location,  and  the  general  quiet  and 
order  of  the  village,  together  with  a  competent  board  of 
teachers,  affords  good  inducements  to  the  real  student. 

Population,  1682.  Amount  of  inventory,  $453,498. 
Number  of  polls,  389.  Value  of  mills  and  carding 
machines,  $8150.  Value  of  stock  in  trade,  $11,960. 
Amount  of  money  at  interest  or  on  deposit,  $21,450. 
Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unimproved,  $276,753. 
Number  of  sheep,  4810.  Do.  neat  stock,  1456.  Do. 
horses,  256. 

Candia,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Deer- 
field,  east  by  Nottingham,  south  by  Auburn  and  Chester, 
and  west  by  Hooksett.  Area,  15,360  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord  15  miles,  south-east ;  from  Exeter  20,  west. 
It  is  situated  on  the  height  of  land  between  Merrimack 
River  and  the  ocean.  The  soil  is  naturally  of  hard  culti- 
vation, but  the  energy  and  industry  of  the  inhabitants  have 
rendered  it  highly  productive.  From  its  elevated  position, 
it  commands  an  extensive  view  of  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
the  country  for  many  miles  around,  including  within  the 
range  of  visioii  the  White  Hill's,  the  Wachuset,  several 
other  mountains,  the  lighthouses  on  Tlum  Island,  and  the 
ocean.  It  is  a  very  healthy  town,  owing  in  a  great  meas- 
ure, probably,  to  its  elevation.  Farming  is  the  principal 
employment.  There  are  many  excellent  farms,  from  which 
much  produce,  including  considerable  fruit  of  excellent 
quality,  is  raised,  for  which  a  ready  market  is  found  in 
Manchester.  This  town  raises  annually  the  sum  of 
$1000  for  the  support  of  common  schools.  As  a  result 
of  this  liberal  provision  in   behalf  of  the   elements   of 


124  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

common  school  education,  Candia  sends  out  a  large  num- 
ber of  well-educated  young  men  and  ladies  as  teachers, 
who  usually  rank  high  in  this  truly  useful  and  laudable 
calling.  There  is  a  large  shoe  manufactory  in  this  town, 
where  150  persons  are  constantly  employed. 

The  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  the  town  was  Wil- 
liam Turner,  who  came  here  in  1748.  In  1755  John 
Sargent  and  others  commenced  settlement  here.  It  was 
incorporated  in  1763.  It  received  its  present  name  from 
Governor  Banning  Wentworth,  who  was  once  a  prisoner  on 
the  Island  of  Candia,  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  the  ancient 
Crete.  The  people  of  this  town  were  active  in  the  war 
of  independence.  The  names  of  69  soldiers  are  found  on 
the  town  records, 

A  Congregational  church  was  first  established  here  in 
1771,  and  Rev.  David  Jewett  settled  as  its  pastor ;  removed 
in  1780 ;  succeeded  in  178l'2  by  Rev.  Joseph  Prince,  who 
was  succeeded  in  1790  by  Rev.  Jesse  Remington,  who 
died  in  1815.  There  is  also  a  society  of  Freewill  Bap- 
tists. 

Population,  1482.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  450. 
Amount  of  inventory,  ^409,394.  Amount  of  money  at 
interest  or  on  deposit,  ^39,333.  Value  of  lands,  improved 
and  unimproved,  !iJ5242,830.  Number  of  sheep,  342.  Do, 
neat  stock,  1246,     Do,  horses,  195, 

Canterbury,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Northfield  and  Gilmanton,  east  by  Gilmanton  and  Loudon, 
south  by  Loudon  and  Concord,  and  west  by  Merrimack 
River,  which  separates  it  from  Boscawen,  A  high  ridge 
of  land,  extending  along  the  line  between  this  town  and 
Northfield,  affords  a  fine  prospect  of  the  surrounding 
country.     Canterbury   is   8   miles    distant  from   Concord, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  126 

and  contains  an  area  of  26,345  acres.  The  surface  is 
uneven,  the  more  hilly  portions  being  excellent  for  pas- 
turage. The  soil  is  generally  good.  There  are  no  streams 
of  importance  in  the  town ;  but  several  ponds  supply  small 
streams,  which  are  used  to  some  extent  for  manufacturing 
purposes.  For  a  long  time  during  the  early  period  of  the 
settlement,  the  inhabitants  were  sufferers  from  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  Indians.  The  husbandman  cleared  and  culti- 
vated his  grounds  under  protection  of  a  guard ;  and  often, 
while  pursuing  his  daily  toil,  he  was  reminded  of  his 
danger  by  the  sudden  report  of  firearms  in  the  hands  of 
the  secret,  lurking  foe.  In  1738  two  men,  named  Blan- 
chard  and  Shepherd,  having  proceeded  a  short  distance  from 
the  garrison  kept  in  town,  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  seven 
Indians,  who  suddenly  rose  from  behind  a  log  within  a  few 
ieet  of  them.  All  the  Indians  at  once  fired,  but  without 
effect  Blanchard  and  his  companion  returned  the  fire 
upon  the  savages,  but  to  no  purpose.  Shepherd  then 
made  his  escape ;  but  Blanchard  was  taken.  The  Indians 
wounded  and  mutilated  him  so  badly  that  he  survived  but 
a  few  days.  During  the  French  and  Indian  war,  frequent 
attacks  were  made  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  town.  On 
one  occasion  they  broke  into  the  house  of  Thomas  Clough, 
and,  finding  no  one  within,  plundered  it  of  its  contents. 
Finding  a  negro  servant  of  Clough,  with  a  boy  named 
Jackson,  at  work  in  a  field  not  far  distant,  the  Indians  took 
them  to  Canada,  where  they  remained  until  the  close  of 
the  war  in  1749.  In  the  spring  of  1752  two  Indians, 
named  Sabatis  and  Christi,  came  into  the  settlement,  where 
they  were  kindly  entertained  by  the  people  for  several 
weeks.  At  length  they  left  suddenly,  forcing  away  with 
them  two  negroes,  one  of  whom  soon  succeeded  in  making 
his  escape,  and  returned.     The  other  was  taken  to  Crown 


Ij^ 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 


Point  and  sold  to  a  military  officer.  The  following'  y^it 
Sabatis  returned  with  another  Indian,  named  PlausaWa, 
V^hen,  on  being  reproved  for  his  former  misdemeanor,  he 
and  his  comrade  behaved  in  an  insolent  and  threatening 
manner.  Doubtless  this  misconduct  was  caused  in  a  great 
measure  by  the  use  of  strong  drink,  with  which,  by  some 
thoughtless  persons,  they  had  been  freely  treated.  While 
in  this  condition,  such  was  their  conduct  that  strong  and 
bitter  feelings  were  excited  against  them.  Soon,  however, 
they  took  their  leave,  when  a  certain  person  followed  them, 
and,  taking  advantage  of  their  now  almost  helpless  con- 
dition, killed  them.  By  the  assistance  of  another  person 
the  Indians  were  immediately  buried,  but  so  slightly  that 
their  bodies  were  dug  up  by  wild  beasts,  and  their 
bones  were  soon  after  discovered  scattered  about  on  the 
ground.  These  two  men,  shortly  after  the  discovery,  wet^ 
arrested,  and  taken  to  Portsmouth  for  trial.  A  bill  being 
found  against  them  by  the  grand  jury,  they  were  confined 
in  irons  for  trial;  but  in  the  night  previous  to  the  time 
appointed,  a  mob  from  the  country,  armed  with  axes  and 
bars,  forced  open  the  prison  and  carried  them  off  in 
triumph.  So  imbittered  were  the  feelings  of  the  people 
against  the  Indians,  by  reason  of  their  wanton  and  brutal 
depredations,  that  it  was  difficult,  and  almost  impossible,  to 
award  them  justice,  even  in  cases  of  undisputed  right. 

This  town  was  granted  in  1727  to  Richard  Waldron  and 
others.  This  grant  also  included  Northfield  and  Loudon. 
It  was  settled  soon  after  the  grant  was  obtained.  There 
"M^as  no  regular  church  organization  until  1761,  although 
tliere  was  occasional  preaching  from  the  first  settlement. 
In  the  year  just  mentioned  Rev.  Abiel  Foster  was  ordained, 
and  labored  as  pastor  until  1779,  after  which  he  was 
called  to  discharge  the  duties  of  magistrate  and  legislator. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  127 

In  1783  he  was  chosen  to  Congress,  and  for  three  years 
filled  that  office  under  the  old  confederation.  He  was 
seyeral  times  returned  as  member  of  Congress  until  1804. 
Rev.  Frederic  Parker  was  ordained  in  1791,  and  contin- 
ued in  charge  until  1802,  when  he  deceased.  Rev.  William 
Patrick  was  ordained  in  1803,  who  has,  until  within  a  very 
few  years,  discharged  the  arduous  duties  of  his  sacred  trust, 
and  now  labors  in  connection  with  a  colleague.  There  is 
also  a  Freewill  Baptist  society  in  the  town. 

Population,  1614.  Number  of  polls,  369.  Amount 
of  inventory,  $595,493.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and 
unimproved,  |396,260.  Number  of  sheep,  2604.  Do. 
neat  stock,  1850.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  250. 

In  the  south-east  part  of  this  town,  situated  on  an  ele- 
vated and  beautiful  site,  is  the  neat  and  quiet,  though  busy, 
village  of  the  Shakers  —  a  sect  of  Christians  first  known  in 
this  country  about  the  year  1774,  when  the  founder,  Ann 
Lee,  came  to  New  York  from  Liverpool.  The  organisa- 
tion of  this  society  commenced,  in  the  autumn  of  the  year 
1782,  through  the  instrumentality  of  two  ministers,  Eben- 
ezer  Cooley  and  Israel  Chauncey,  from  New  Lebanon,  in 
New  York,  where  a  society,  the  first  in  America,  had  been 
formed  about  two  years  previous.  The  village  is  about  11 
miles  north-east  from  Concord.  It  is  remarkably  healthy  ; 
which  is  owing  partly,  no  doubt,  to  the  regular  and  simple 
habits  of  the  people,  and  partly  to  the  location.  The  soci- 
ety own  not  fiir  from  2500  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  under  improvement,  although  there  is  still  forest 
enough  left  for  the  supply  of  wood  and  timber  for  several 
years.  The  land  is  regarded  as  devoted  to  the  Lord,  as  well 
as  all  their  property,  which  they  enjoy  in  common.  They 
readily  pay  their  just  proportion  of  the  public  taxes,  and 
share  aU  the  burdens  of  government  except  the  performance 


% 


128  NEW    HAMPSHIKK    AS    IT    IS. 

of  military  duty,  which  they  deem  at  variance  with  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  and,  in  return,  they  ask  of  govern- 
ment that  protection  only  which  is  guarantied  to  other  citi- 
zens. Although  this  society,  in  connection  with  others  in 
the  vicinity,  embraced  their  present  faith  in  the  years  1782 
and  1783,  they  were  not  gathered  into  a  compact  body  or 
church,  in  order  to  possess  a  community  of  intei'est,  until 
the  year  1792  —  about  ten  years  after  they  first  embraced 
the  faith ;  but  the  members  of  the  society  continued  in  a 
separate  family  capacity,  and  each  member  retained  and 
managed  his  ov/u  property  and  other  temporal  affairs  pertain- 
ing to  himself  according  to  his  own  judgment  and  discre- 
tion. In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1792,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Elder  Job  Bishop,  from  New  Lebanon,  the 
members  of  this  society  adopted  the  order  of  a  joint  union 
and  interest  in  all  they  possessed,  being  governed  by  no 
other  spirit  or  influence  than  that  which  governed  the  prim- 
itive Christians  or  church  at  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Nor 
has  the  instance  been  knoAvn,  from  tlie  day  of  the  forma- 
tion of  this  society  to  the  present,  wherein  a  member  has 
claimed  for  his  exclusive  use  or  control  a  cent  of  what  he 
or  she  had  thus  consecrated,  or  even  to  hint  that  aught  of 
the  things  once  possessed  were  in  any  sense  entirely  his 
own.  However,  this  sacrifice  or  surrender  is  not  required 
of  any  one  contrary  to  his  own  faith  and  voluntary  choice. 
There  are  at  the  present  time  some,  who  are  held  in  union 
as  members  of  the  society,  who  have  never  consecrated 
their  property  or  devoted  it  to  the  joint  interest.  Such 
usually  constitute  an  order  or  family  by  themselves,  ren- 
dering their  time  and  service,  together  Avith  the  use  of  their 
property,  for  the  mutual  support  and  benefit  of  such  family. 
In  the  year  1782  there  were  about  30  families  who  re- 
ceived  the  testimony,  exclusive  of  other  individuals,  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  129 

whole  number  amounting  to  perhaps  140  or'  150  members. 
Since  that  time  there  has  been  a  slow  but  gradual  increase, 
so  that  the  society  consists  of  nearly  300  members.  They 
do  not  boast  of  numbers  or  offer  crowds  as  a  test  of  the 
soundness  of  their  Christian  faith  and  doctrine,  or  as  an 
infallible  guide  to  the  narrow  Avay  that  leads  to  eternal  life  ; 
neither  do  they  regard  large  numbers  or  powerful  associa- 
tions as  any  evidence  in  favor  of  the  "  good  and  the  right 
way ;  "  but,  on  the  contrary,  "  Strait  is  the  gate  and  nar- 
row is  the  way  that  leadeth  unto  life ;  and  few  there  be  that 
iind  it."  (Matt.  vii.  14.)  Neither  is  it  their  aim  to  accu- 
mulate property  ;  but  what  they  acquire  by  honest  industry, 
more  than  is  sufficient  for  their  comfortable  support,  they 
bestow  to  charitable  purposes. 

The  whole  number  of  buildings  belonging  to  this  society 
in  Canterbury  is  about  100.  Among  these  is  a  meeting 
house,  where  the  members  resort  once  a  week,  on  the  Sab- 
bath, for  public  religious  worship.  There  are  15  dwelling 
houses,  mostly  of  Avood,  painted  with  light  yellow,  and  are 
3  and  3  stories  in  height.  In  each  family  there  are  rooms 
in  some  of  the  dwellings  appropriated  exclusively  for  the 
trustees  of  the  society,  where  all  its  financial  business  is 
transacted.  There  are  also,  in  some  of  these  buildings, 
apartments  fitted  for  the  accommodation  and  comfort  of  the 
aged  and  infirm.  There  are  other  large  and  convenient 
buildings,  constructed  of  wood  or  brick,  which  are  occupied 
;is  workshops,  store  houses,  granaries,  wood  houses,  barns, 
Sec,  which  are  spacious,  convenient,  and  in  all  respects 
perfectly  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  de- 
signed. There  is  also  one  school  house,  where  the  boys  are 
instructed  during  the  three  winter  months,  and  the  girls 
the  same  length  of  time  during  the  summer.  To  any  one 
who  has  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  this  school,  the  order, 


tt$  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT    IS. 

metliod,  and  careful  attention  to  the  minutest  details,  as 
well  as  the  more  comprehensive  data  of  elementary  studies, 
axe  both  readily  apparent  and  striking,  and  furnish  an  exam- 
ple eminently  worthy  of  imitation.  The  studies  pursued 
are  those  usually  taught  in  most  country  schools  ;  but  the 
learner  is  not  suffered  to  rest  with  merely  a  superficial  ac- 
'  quaintance  with  the  subject  of  study,  as  is  often  the  case. 
Correct  and  thorough  knowledge,  even  though  to  a  limited 
extent,  is  deemed  of  far  greater  benefit  than  a  partial  and 
indistinct  glance  at  every  branch  and  department  of  learn- 
ing. There  are  6  mills  —  1  for  carding  and  spinning ;  1 
gristmill,  in  Avhich  is  also  a  sawmill  for  timber,  shingle 
machines,  planing  machines,  &c. ;  3  turning  mills  for 
wood  and  iron  ;  1  for  weaving,  coloring,  fulling,  and  for 
the  knitting  of  shirts  and  di-awers.  These  mills  are  all  sit- 
uated on  one  stream  and  at  the  head  of  six  artificial  ponds. 
The  water  of  these  is  collected  in  reservoirs  at  a  distance 
of  3  miles  from  the  village,  and  is  conducted  from  one 
to  the  other  through  ditches.  The  various  articles  of  man- 
ufacture in  this  community  consist  principally  of  brooms, 
pails,  tubs,  sieves,  flannel  and  knit  shirts  and  drawers,  An- 
gola shirts  and  drawers,  &c. 

The  raising  of  garden  seeds  and  medicinal  herbs  and 
roots  constitutes  an  extensive  branch  of  business.  Corbett's 
compound  sirup  of  sarsaparilla  is  manufactured  here.  The 
distillation  of  the  various  essential  oils,  such  as  checkcrber- 
ry,  rose,  peach,  &c.,  and  the  preparation  of  the  various  me- 
dicinal herbs  and  extracts  for  almost  every  market  in  the 
region,  are  to  a  large  extent  carried  on  and  furnished  by  this 
society.  These  are  sold  not  only  through  the  United  States, 
but  are  also  transported  in  great  quantities  to  the  Canadas, 
Cuba,  Australia,  and  other  places.  The  use  of  alcoholic 
drinks  is  never  indulged  in  or  allowed  except  in  cases  of 


t 


OAZETTKF.R    OF    NFAV    HAMPSHIRE.  131 

sickness.  Tn  their  business  transactions  with  others,  they 
never  solicit  credit  cither  for  hirge  or  small  sums.  Their 
secular  concerns  are  conducted  with  a  degree  of  probity, 
uprightness,  and  perseverance  which  has  rendered  them 
proverbial  for  industry,  justice,  and  benevolence.  The  pe- 
culiar doctrines  of  this  sect  are  noticed  under  the  head 
"  Religion,"  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 

Carrot,!,,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Jeflferson,  east 
by  the  White  Mountain  territory,  south  by  ungranted  land, 
and  west  by  Bethlehem  and  Whitefield.  It  lies  at  the  base 
of  the  White  Mountains,  and  presents  a  rugged  and  dreary 
appearance.  The  surface  is  uneven  ;  the  soil  in  some  places 
is  strong  and  deep  ;  the  scenery  is  Avild  and  romantic.  It 
is  yet  considerably  covered  with  a  dense  forest  of  maple, 
as  well  as  pine,  hemlock,  and  spruce.  There  are  numer- 
ous small  streams  within  its  limits,  which  swarm  with 
trout.  Its  area  consists  of  24,640  acres.  Pondicherry 
Mountain  is  situated  in  the  northern  part,  between  this  town 
and  Jefferson.  John's  and  Israel's  Rivers  receive  several 
tributaries  from  this  place,  and  the  head  streams  of  the 
Ammonusuc  from  the  neighboring  mountains  unite  in  pass- 
ing through  this  town.  Carroll  was  oi-iginally  named 
Bretton  Woods,  and  was  granted,  in  1773,  to  Sir  Thomas 
Wentworth,  baronet.  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,  and  81  others. 
It  received  its  present  name  in  ISS'i,  when  it  was  incorpo- 
rated.    Distance  from  Concord,  113  miles,  north. 

Population,  299.  Number  of  polls,  77.  Valuation, 
$94,194.  Number  of  sheep,  253.  Do.  neat  stock,  270. 
Do.  horses,  65. 

Centre  Harbor,  Belknap  county.  Bounded  north-east 
by  Moultonborough,  south-east  by  Meredith,  south-west  by 


132  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

New  Hampton,  and  north-west  by  Holderness  and  Squam 
Lake.  Area,  7550  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40 
miles,  north;  from  Boston,  116.  Measley  Pond  and 
Squam  Lake  are  partly  in  this  town.  In  the  latter  are 
found  considerable  quantities  of  fine  trout.  This  is  a  beau- 
tiful sheet  of  water,  6  miles  in  length,  and  studded  with 
islands,  some  of  which  are  mere  dots  upon  the  waves,  while 
others  contain  an  acre  or  more,  and  in  summer  are  bright 
with  verdure,  or  later  in  the  season  are  smiling  with  the 
gifts  of  Ceres.  From  lied  Hill  the  view  of  this  lake  is 
enchanting,  and  awakens  in  the  mind  of  the  beholder 
thoughts  of  some  fairyland  which  mortals  sometimes  may 
catch  a  glimpse  of,  but  can  never  approach.  The  soil  in 
this  town  is  mostly  a  rich  loam.  The  town  is  pleasantly 
situated,  and  its  location  probably  gave  rise  to  its  present 
name.  It  derived  its  name  originally  from  that  of  one  of 
the  first  settlers  who  came  here  in  IT 67. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1765,  by  Ebenezer 
Chamberlain.  A  Congregational  church  was  organized 
here  in  1815,  over  which  Rev.  David  Smith  was  settled  in 
1819.  Centre  Harbor  is  widely  known  as  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  summer  resorts  in  the  country.  Far  from  the  noise 
and  bustle  of  crowded  city  and  the  petty  annoyances  of 
village  gossip,  the  man  of  leisure  or  the  man  of  business 
may  each  find  an  asylum  adapted  to  his  wants.  From  its 
pure  and  invigorating  atmosphere  the  city  invalid  may  re- 
new the  decaying  springs  of  his  own  vitality,  while  bud- 
ding beauty  shoots  forth  still  more  beautiful.  In  the  vil- 
lage at  the  north-western  extremity  of  the  lake  is  an  excel- 
lent hotel,  kept  by  Mr.  Coe,  which  for  many  years*  has 
been  celebrated  for  the  order,  quiet,  and  liberal  attention 
kept  and  maintained  in  all  its  arrangements.  Here  the 
traveller  will  find  all  the  elegance,  style,  variety,  and  lux- 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  188 

ury  of  a  first-class  city  hotel.  Sail  boats,  row  boats,  fishing 
tackle,  horses,  carriages,  «&c.,  may  be  obtained  here  for  the 
accommodation  of  visitors. 

Travellers  from  New  York  will  secure  a  direct  route  to 
this  place  by  taking  the  Norwich  line  of  steamers  on  Long 
Island  Sound;  thence  over  the  Norwich  and  Worcester 
Railroad  to  Worcester ;  thence  over  the  Worcester  and 
Nashua  Railroad  to  Nashua;  thence  over  the  Concord 
Railroad  to  Concord  ;  thence  over  the  Boston,  Concord,  and 
Montreal  Railroad  to  Wier's  Landing,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Winnipiseogee.  From  thence  by  steamboat,  a  delightful 
ride  of  10  miles  on  the  lake  brings  you  to  your  journey's 
end  —  the  Senter  House.  From  this  place  the  route  is 
easy  and  agreeable  to  Franconia,  leading  through  a  section 
of  the  state  remarkable  for  its  cool  and  reviving  breezes 
and  its  wild  and  beautiful  scenery.  In  this  section  there  is 
also  much  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  geologist  and  the 
lovers  of  science  generally.  In  many  places  there  are 
strong  marks  of  the  existence,  at  some  former  period,  of  a 
volcano  in  the  vicinity. 

Population,  544.  Number  of  polls,  124.  Valuation, 
$138,790.  Number  of  sheep,  438.  Do.  neat  stock,  616. 
Do.  horses,  78. 

Charlestown,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Claremont,  east  by  Unity,  Acworth,  and  Langdon,  south  by 
Langdon  and  Walpole,  and  west  by  Springfield,  Vermont. 
Distance  from  Concord,  51  miles,  west.  Area,  21,400 
acres.  The  only  rivers  in  this  town  are  the  Little  Sugar 
and  the  Connecticut,  which  latter  flows  along  its  western 
limits  for  a  distance  of  13  miles.  The  town  is  very  narrow, 
and  its  eastern  line  is  very  irregular.  In  Connecticut  Riv- 
er are  3  islands,  which  constitute   a  part  of  Charlestown, 


If^  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

the  largest  of  which  (Sartwell's  Island)  contains  about  10 
acres,  and  is  in  a  state  of  high  cultivation.  The  other  two 
contain  about  6  acres  each,  and  are  composed  of  a  rich, 
loamy  soil.  Little  Sugar  Kiver  passes  through  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  The  soil  is  various.  West  of  the  road 
leading  to  Walpole  there  are  1500  acres  of  interval,  of  a 
deep,  rich,  and  loamy  soil,  favorable  to  the  production  of 
most  of  the  varieties  of  grass  and  grain  ;  in  the  east  and 
north-east  portions  of  the  town  the  soil  of  the  uplands  is 
strong  and  productive.  A  ridge  of  land  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town  extends  nearly  through  its  entire  length, 
the  surface  of  which  is  hard,  uneven,  and  stony,  and  is 
considered  of  but  little  value. 

Charlestown  village  is  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  de- 
lightful in  the  state.  It  is  situated  on  a  plain,  about  half 
a  mile  from  Connecticut  River,  and  nearly  parallel  with  it. 
The  main  street  is  about  a  mile  in  length,  is  quite  broad, 
and  the  highway  is  adorned  on  each  side  with  rows  of  ma- 
jestic elms.  The  houses  are  mostly  of  two  stories,  neat  and 
substantial,  —  many  of  them  built  in  the  style  and  on  the 
liberal  scale  so  common  among  country  gentlemen  fifty  or 
seventy -five  years  ago,  —  with  spacious  grounds.  Others 
are  elegant  modern  cottages.  The  Sullivan  Railroad  passes 
through  this  village  and  through  the  village  at  North 
Charlestown,  at  both  of  which  places  is  a  depot.  There  is 
a  deposit  of  bog  iron  ore  about  2^  miles  ^outh-east  of  the 
village,  covering  an  area  of  5000  yards.  In  the  midst  of 
this  deposit  a  chalybeate  spring  rises,  strongly  impregnated 
with  iron.  Yellow  ochre,  in  great  abundance  and  of  a  qual- 
ity suitable  for  paint,  is  obtained  here.  On  the  summit  of 
the  hill,  above  the  deposit  of  bog  iron  ore,  is  a  bed  of 
conglomerated  quartz  pebble. 

Charlestown  was  granted,  December  31,  1735,  by  Mas- 


GAZETTEBK    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  X$^ 

sachusetts,  under  the  uame  of  Number  Four,  to  63  persons. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  holdeu  at  Hatfield, 
April  5,  1737.  The  first  settlers  were  several  families  by  the 
names  of  Parker,  Farnsworth,  and  Sartwell,  from  Groton, 
Massachusetts.  They  were  soon  followed  by  a  family  named 
Hastings,  from  Lunenburg,  and  another  named  Stevens,  from 
Rutland.  In  1743  a  fort  was  built  in  this  place,  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  Stoddard,  of  Northampton.  Mills  were 
first  erected  in  1744.  It  was  in  this  year  that  the  Cape 
Breton  war  began.  Charlestown,  being  more  than  30  miles 
from  any  settlement,  was,  during  this  period,  the  scene  of 
much  suffering  and  privation.  In  the  spring  of  1746  a 
party  of  Indians  suddenly  appeared,  and  took  John  Spaf- 
ford,  Isaac  Parker,  and  Stephen  Farnsworth,  as  they  were 
driving  their  teams.  Tlieir  cattle  were  soon  after  found 
dead,  with  their  tongues  cut  out.  The  men  were  carried  to 
Canada,  .and  after  some  time  returned  to  Boston  under  a 
flag  of  truce.  In  May  following  the  Indians  again  made 
their  appearance  at  Number  Four.  About  evening  some 
women  went  out  to  milk  their  cows,  attended  by  Major  Jo- 
siah  Willard  and  several  soldiers  as  a  guard,  when  eight 
Indians,  who  were  concealed  in  a  barn,  fired  on  them,  and 
killed  Soth  Putnam.  While  they  were  scalping  him,  Wil- 
lard and  two  of  his  men  fired  on  them  and  mortally  wound- 
ed two  of  them,  when  the  Indians  retreated,  carrying  theu" 
dying  companions  with  them.  A  few  days  after,  as  Cap- 
tain Paine,  with  about  20  of  his  men,  were  going  out  to  view 
the  place  where  Putnam  was  killed,  they  fell  into  an  am- 
bush. The  enemy  rose  up  from  the  bushes,  fired,  and  then 
endeavored  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Paine  and  his  compa- 
ny. The  noise  being  heard  at  the  fort,  Captain  Phinehas 
Stevens,  witli  a  party  of  men,  rushed  out  to  their  reUef. 
A  warm  skirmish  followed,  in  which  five  men  were  killed 


136  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

on  both  sides,  and  one  of  Paine's  party  was  taken.  The 
Indians  were  at  length  compelled  to  retire,  and  in  their 
haste  left  behind  several  of  their  guns  and  blankets. 
About  a  month  after,  another  engagement  happened  at  the 
same  place.  As  Captain  Stevens  and  Captain  Brown  were 
going  into  the  meadow  to  look  for  their  horses,  their  dogs 
discovered  an  ambush,  which  put  the  men  on  their  guard, 
and  gave  them  the  advantage  of  the  first  fire.  After  a 
short  but  close  encounter,  the  Indians  were  driven  into  a 
neighboring  swamp,  drawing  away  some  of  their  dead.  In 
this  action  only  one  white  man  was  lost.  Several  blankets, 
hatchets,  spears,  guns,  and  other  things  were  left  by  the 
Indians,  which  were  sold  for  £40,  old  tenor,  which 
was  reckoned  "  a  great  booty  for  such  beggarly  enemies." 
During  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  this  year,  the  In- 
dians destroyed  the  mills  in  Charlestown  by  fire.  In  Au- 
gust a  man  named  Phillips  was  killed  ;  and  as  the  people 
were  carrying  him  into  the  fort  they  were  fired  upon,  but 
happily  none  were  injured.  Having  burned  a  few  build- 
ings, and  killed  and  maimed  some  cattle,  the  Indians  took 
their  leave.  In  November  the  settlement  was  deserted, 
excepting  that  six  men  were  left  in  charge  of  the  fort, 
who  kept  it  until  winter  set  in,  when  they  also  left.  In 
the  latter  end  of  March,  1747,  Captain  Phinehas  Stevens, 
who  commanded  a  company  of  rangers  consisting  of  30 
men,  came  to  Number  Four,  and  finding  the  fort  deserted, 
but  in  good  condition,  determined  to  keep  possession  of  it 
He  had  been  there  but  a  few  days  when  he  was  attacked 
by  a  party  of  400  French  and  Indians,  under  command  of 
M.  Debellne.  The  dogs,  by  their  continued  barking,  ex- 
cited the  suspicion  that  the  enemy  Avere  lurking  about, 
which  induced  the  inmates  of  the  fort  to  keep  the  gates 
closed.     A  single  man  ventured  out  to  make  a  discovery. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  137 

and  was  immediately  fired  upon ;  but  he  succeeded  in  re- 
turning to  the  fort  with  only  a  slight  wound.  The  enemy, 
finding  that  they  were  discovered,  now  arose  from  their  con- 
cealment and  poured  in  their  volleys  upon  the  fort  from 
all  sides.  The  wind  being  high,  they  set  fire  to  the  fences 
and  log  houses,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  fort  was  sur- 
rounded by  flames.  Captain  Stevens  was  on  the  alert,  and 
ready  at  every  point  with  means  to  avert  impending  dan- 
ger. He  kept  every  vessel  within  the  fort  full  of  water, 
and  caused  trenches  to  be  dug  under  the  walls,  so  that  a 
man  might  crawl  through  and  extinguish  any  fire  which 
might  catch  on  the  outside  walls.  The  Indians,  bent  on 
the  destruction  of  the  fort  and  all  within  it,  kept  up  a 
continued  stream  of  flaming  arrows  against  the  fort,  but 
fortunately  without  effect.  The  fire  of  the  fences  did  not 
reach  the  fort,  so  that  all  attempts  at  destruction  by  confl-a- 
gration  were  providentially  of  no  avail. 

This  attack,  accompanied  with  hideous  shouts  and  yells, 
was  kept  up  incessantly  for  two  days.  Infuriated  at  the 
obstinacy  of  the  besieged,  the  savages  next  prepared  a 
wheel  carriage,  loaded  with  dry  fagots  and  bushes,  which 
they  pushed  behind  them  towards  the  fort.  Feeling  cer- 
tain of  success,  before  they  carried  this  plan  into  effect, 
they  demanded  a  cessation  of  arms  till  sunrise  ;  which  was 
granted.  In  the  morning,  Debeline  advanced  towards  the 
fort  with  50  men,  bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  which  he  stuck 
in  the  ground.  He  demanded  a  parley,  which  was  agreed 
to.  A  French  officer,  with  a  soldier  and  an  Indian,  then 
came  forward  and  proposed  that  the  garrison  should  bind 
up  a  quantity  of  provisions  in  their  -blankets,  and,  having 
laid  down  their  arms,  allow  themselves  to  be  conducted  as 
prisoners  of  war  to  Montreal.  Another  proposal  was,  that 
the  two  commanders  should  meet,  and  that  an  answer 
12* 


188  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

should  then  be  given.  Stevens  met  the  French  com- 
mander, Avho,  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  began  to 
enforce  his  first  proposal  with  the  threat  that,  if  not  im- 
mediately acceded  to,  he  would  storm  the  fort,  and  put 
every  man  within  it  to  the  sword  if  they  should  refuse 
his  terms  or  kill  one  of  his  men.  Stevens,  seeing  that  to 
treat  upon  honorable  terms  was  out  of  the  question,  reso- 
lutely replied,  that  he  would  listen  to  no  terms  until  the  last 
extremity  —  that  he  was  intrusted  with  the  defence  of  the 
fort,  and  was  determined  to  maintain  it  till  he  should  be  con- 
vinced that  Monsieur  Debeline,  with  his  forces,  could  ac- 
complish what  he  had  threatened.  He  added,  that  it  was 
poor  encouragement  to  surrender  if  they  were  all  to  be 
slaughtered  for  killing  one  man,  when  it  was  certain  they 
had  already  killed  many.  The  Frenchman,  with  insolence, 
replied,  "  Go,  see  if  your  men  dare  fight  any  longer,  and 
give  me  a  quick  answer."  Stevens  went  into  the  fort,  and 
asked  his  men  whether  they  would  fight,  or  surrender.  It 
was  at  once  and  unanimously  resolved  to  fight.  This  was 
immediately  communicated  to  the  enemy,  who  thereupon 
resumed  their  shouting  and  fighting,  keeping  it  up  all  that 
day  and  the  night  following.  On  the  morning  of  the  third 
day  they  demanded  another  cessation  for  two  hours.  Two 
Indians  then  came  forward  and  proposed  to  Stevens  that, 
if  he  would  sell  them  provisions,  they  would  withdraw. 
He  answered,  that  to  sell  an  enemy  provisions  for  money 
was  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations ;  but  he  would  pay  them 
five  bushels  of  corn  for  every  captive  for  whom  they  would 
give  a  hostage,  until  the  captive  could  be  brought  from 
Canada.  After  this  reply  the  enemy  fired  a  few  more 
guns,  and  then  disappeared.  In  this  brave  defence  against 
great  odds  and  a  starving,  savage  foe,  no  lives  were  lost 
within  the  fort,  and  only  two  men  Avcre  wounded.     An  ex- 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  Jb99 

press  was  immediately  despatched  to  Boston,  and  the  news 
was  there  received  with  demonstrations  of  joy.  Commo- 
dore Sir  Charles  Knowles  was  so  highly  pleased  with  the 
conduct  of  Captain  Stevens  that  he  presented  him  with  an 
elegant  and  valuable  sword.  From  this  circumstance  the 
township,  when  it  was  incorporated,  July  2,  1753,  received 
the  name  of  Charlestown. 

This  charter  was  granted  by  Governor  Beuning  Went- 
worth  to  Joseph  Wells,  I'hinehas  Stevens,  and  others,  who 
were  purchasers  under  the  old  grantees.  In  1754  the 
French  war  began,  and  the  inhabitants  were  once  more 
obliged  to  resort  to  the  fort  for  safety.  From  infancy  the 
settlers  had  been  trained  to  scenes  of  hardship  and  danger 
unknown  to  their  descendants.  When  they  attended  pub- 
lic worship,  or  cultivated  their  lands,  they  proceeded  forth 
from  the  fort  armed  for  battle,  and  worshipped  or  toiled 
under  protection  of  a  sentinel.  In  their  depredatory  ex- 
cursions, the  Indians  preferred  prisoners  to  scalps,  and 
generally  killed  but  few  excepting  those  who  were  likely 
to  escape  or  appeared  too  formidable  to  be  encountered 
with  success.  On  the  29th  of  August,  1754,  the  Indians, 
early  in  the  morning,  attacked  the  house  of  James  Johnson, 
who,  with  his  wife,  her  sister,  and  three  children,  and  two 
men,  Peter  Labaree  and  Ebenezer  Farns worth,  were  taken 
prisoners.  On  the  second  day  of  the  journey,  about  15  miles 
from  Charlestown,  in  the  wilderness,  ]Mrs.  Johnson  was 
delivered  of  a  child,  who,  from  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances attending  its  birth,  was  named  Captive.  The  In- 
dians halted  one  day  on  account  of  the  woman,  and  on  the 
next  day  took  up  their  march,  carrying  her  in  a  littej 
which  they  made  for  that  purpose.  During  the  march, 
being  distressed  for  want  of  provisions,  they  killed  the 
only  horse  they  had,  and  the  infant  was  nourished  by  suck- 


140  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

ing  pieces  of  its  flesh.  When  they  had  arrived  at  Mon- 
treal, Johnson  obtained  a  parole  to  return  and  solicit  funds 
for  the  redemption  of  his  family  and  himself.  He  applied 
to  the  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire,  and  at  length  secured 
£150  sterling ;  but  the  season  was  then  so  far  advanced 
that  he  did  not  return  to  Canada  until  spring  opened.  He 
was  then  charged  with  having  broken  his  parole  ;  a  great 
part  of  his  money  was  taken  from  him  by  violence ;  and  he 
was  shut  up  with  his  family  in  a  prison,  where  they  took 
the  small  pox ;  but  fortunately  they  all  survived.  After 
18  months,  Mrs.  Johnson,  with  her  sister  and  two  daughters, 
was  sent  in  a  cartel  ship  to  England,  and  thence  returned 
to  Boston. 

Johnson  was  still  retained  in  prison  for  three  years,  and 
then,  with  his  son,  returned  and  found  his  wife  in  Boston. 
His  eldest  daughter  was  retained  in  a  nunnery  in  Canada. 
The  daughter  who  was  born  on  the  journey,  as  related,  after- 
wards married  Colonel  George  Kimball.  In  1756  Lieutenant 
Moses  Willard,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  was  killed. 
He  was  at  work  within  sight  of  the  fort  with  his  son 
Moses.  The  Indians,  having  despatched  the  father,  pur- 
sued the  son,  and  wounded  him  with  a  spear.  He  how- 
ever made  his  escape,  dragging  the  spear  with  him  into  the 
fort.  In  1757  the  Indians  again  burned  the  mills  which  had 
been  rebuilt,  and  took  Sampson  Colefax,  David  Farnsworth, 
and  Thomas  Adams  prisoners.  In  1758  Ashahel  Stebbins 
was  killed,  and  his  wife,  Isaac  Parker,  and  a  soldier  were  cap- 
tured. In  September,  17C0,  Joseph  Willard,  his  Avife,  and 
children  were  taken  prisoners.  After  they  had  proceeded 
on  their  journey  a  few  miles,  the  Indians,  "finding  that  the 
infant  child  gave  signs  of  imeasiness,  and  fearing  that  it 
might  impede  their  progress,  took  it  aside  and  beat  out  its 
brains.     This,  it  is  believed,  was  among  the  last  depreda- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  141 

tions  committed  by  the  Indians  in  New  England.  The 
prisoners  taken  from  Charlestown  were  all  conveyed  to 
Canada  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  and  sold  to  the  French. 
Nearly  all  were  sooner  or  later  redeemed  by  government 
or  by  their  friends.  The  first  child  born  in  Charlestown 
was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac  Parker.  She  was  born  in 
1744.  Charlestown  has  been,  and  still  is,  favored  with  not 
a  few  men  of  eminence  and  ability. 

Captain  Phinehas  Stevens,  of  whom  mention  has  already 
been  made,  was  one  of  the  fii'st  settlers.  He  was  a  native 
of  Sudbury,  Massachusetts,  from  whence  his  father  removed 
to  Rutland.  At  the  age  of  16,  whil-e  his  father  was  making 
hay,  he,  with  three  little  brothers,  followed  him  to  the 
meadow.  They  were  surprised  by  the  Indians,  who  killed 
two  of  his  brothers,  took  him  prisoner,  and  then  made  prep- 
arations to  kill  his  youngest  brother,  a  child  four  years  old. 
By  signs,  he  made  the  Indians  to  understand  that,  if  they 
would  spare  the  little  fellow,  he  would  carry  him  on  his 
back.  They  spared  him,  and  he  carried  him  on  his  back  to 
Canada.  He  died,  in  November,  1756,  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  Samuel  Stevens,  Esq.,  son  of  Captain  Ste- 
vens, was  the  first  representative  of  the  town  to  the  General 
Court,  and,  at  the  age  of  87  years,  discharged  the  duties 
of  register  of  probate  for  the  county  of  Cheshire,  which 
post  he  had  occupied  for  several  years.  Colonel  William 
Heywood  was  one  of  the  ten  males  who  formed  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  1761,  and  filled  the  office  of  town 
clerk  42  years.  Colonel  Samuel  Hunt,  who  was  an  active 
military  officer  during  the  French  and  revolutionary  wars, 
settled  in  this  town  in  1759,  and  was  sheriflf  of  the 
county  until  his  death  in  1779.  Hon.  Simeon  Olcott 
and  Hon.  Benjamin  West  were  men  whom  posterity 
will  not  forget,     Hon.  Heniy  Hubbard  has  filled  the  re- 


142  NEW    nAMFSHIKE    AS    IT    IS. 

sponsible  offices  of  representative  and  senator  in  Congress 
and  governor  of  iSTew  Hampshire.  Hon.  J.  J.  Gilchrist, 
chief  justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  in  thi* 
state,  is  a  citizen  of  Charlestown. 

Charlestown  is  not  remarkably  well  situated  for  a  manu- 
facturing town  or  a  place  of  extensive  business  of  any  kind. 
It  has  but  little  water  power,  and  affords  but  few  facilities 
for  trade.  Still  it  is  a  flourishing  town.  The  Connecticut 
River  Bank  in  this  town  has  a  capital  of  $90,000.  There 
is  a  shoe  establishment,  employing  50  hands.  The  railroad 
machine  shop  gives  employment  to  12  or  15  hands.  The 
first  settled  minister  was  Rev.  John  Dennis,  who,  on  ac- 
count of  the  Indian  war,  was  ordained  in  Northfield  De- 
cember 4,  1754.  He  was  dismissed  in  1756.  Rev.  Bulkly 
Olcott  was  ordained  May  28,  1761 ;  died  June  26,  1792. 
Rev.  Daniel  Foster  supplied  the  place  of  settled  minister 
from  1796  to  1809.  Rev.  Jaazaniah  Crosby  was  ordained 
October  17,  1810.  He  preached  and  maintained  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Congregational  creed  for  several  years,  when 
he,  with  all,  or  neai'ly  so,  of  his  congregation  adopted  the 
Unitarian  fliith.  This  is,  at  the  present  time,  a  large  and 
flourishing  society,  still  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Crosby. 

Population,  1644.  Number  of  polls,  349.  Amount  of 
inventory,  .f  793,664.  Value  of  shares  in  bank,  |70,500. 
Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unimproved,  $442,412. 
Number  of  sheep,  5806.  Do.  neat  stock,  1415.  Do. 
horses  and  mules,  296. 

Chatham,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  the 
White  Mountains,  east  by  Maine,  south  by  Conway,  and 
west  by  Bartlett  and  Jackson.  Area,  26,000  acres.  91^ 
miles  north-east  from  Concord,  and  40  north  from  Ossipee. 
This  town  was   granted,   in    1767,   to    Peter    Livius  and 


GAZErTEER    OF    XEW    HAMPSHIRE.  148 

dthters.  There  are  several  ponds  in  this  town,  and  a  few 
streams  of  considerable  size.  The  surface  is  mountainous 
and  rocky,  and  the  soil,  though  in  some  places  good,  is  yet 
so  scanty  as  never  to  support  a  dense  population.  Be- 
tween Chatham  and  Jackson,  Carter's  Mountain  rises  so 
high  as  to  prevent  the  opening  of  a  road  between  the  two 
towns  ;  so  that,  in  their  intercourse  with  the  people  of  Coos 
county  in  adjoining  towns,  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to 
pass  through  part  of  the  State  of  Maine.  There  is  a  large 
quantity  of  excellent  wood  and  timber  in  this  town,  and 
the  time  will  doubtless  come  when  want  and  enterprise 
will  find  a  market  for  it.  A  large  quantity  of  maple  sugar 
is  produced  here  annually. 

Population,  516.  Number  of  polls,  115.  Valuation, 
$107,975.  Number  of  sheep,  542.  Do.  neat  stock,  503. 
Do.  horses,  70. 

Chester,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Can- 
dia  and  Raymond,  east  by  Poplin  and  Sandown,  south  by 
Derry,  and  west  by  Auburn.  123  miles  south-east  from 
Concord,  and  17  west  from  Exeter.  A  branch  of  Exeter 
River,  called  "  the  Branch,"  is  the  only  stream  of  impor- 
tance. A  considerable  portion  of  this  town  contains  an  ex- 
cellent soil,  and  some  of  the  large,  rich  swells  are  surpassed 
in  fertility  by  none  in  the  state.  There  are  also  several 
large  and  valuable  meadows.  Plumbago,  of  good  quality 
and  in  considerable  abundance,  is  found  in  this  town.  Sul- 
phur is  also  found  in  small  qiiantities,  embedded  in  tremo- 
lite.  Granite  and  gneiss  arc  the  prevailing  rock.  Chester 
formerly  included  the  present  town  of  Auburn,  which  was 
set  off  and  incorporated  in  1845.  In  October,  1719,  about 
80  persons,  chiefly  from  Hampton  and  Portsmouth,  having 
associated  together  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  grant  of 


144  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

a  township  in  the  "  chestnut  country,"  stationed  three  men 
upon  this  tract  to  keep  possession  until  they  should  secure 
the  grant.  After  considerable  difficulty,  they  obtained  a 
grant  of  land  10  miles  square. 

The  settlement  was  immediately  commenced  by  several 
persons  from  Rye  and  Hampton,  among  whom  were  Samuel 
Ingalls,  Jonathan  Goodhue,  Jacob  Sargent,  Ebenezer  Dear- 
born, Eobert  Smith,  B.  and  E.  Colby,  John  and  S.  Hobie, 
who,  by  their  activity  and  perseverance,  contributed  largely 
to  the  success  and  permanence  of  the  entei'prise.  From 
1722  to  1726  the  progress  of  the  settlement  was  somewhat 
interrupted  by  an  Indian  war,  called  the  Three  Years'  war, 
or  Lovewell's  war.  The  Indians  committed  no  depreda- 
tions here,  excepting  that,  in  June,  1724,  they  took  Thomas 
Smith  and  John  Carr,  and,  after  carrying  them  about  30 
miles,  bound  them,  and  lay  down  to  sleep.  During  their 
nap,  which  proved  to  be  pretty  sound,  the  captives  made 
their  cscaj)e,  and  in  three  days  arrived  safe  at  a  garrison  in 
Londonderry.  Several  garrison  houses  were  kept  in  this 
township  until  the  peace  of  1749.     On  the  8th  of  May, 

1722,  the  township  which  had  hitherto  been  called  Cheshire 
was  incorporated  under  its  present  name.  By  the  charter, 
it  comprised  more  than  120  square  miles  of  territory. 

The  first  meeting  under  this  charter  was  held  March  28, 

1723.  Until  1728,  the  town  meetings  were  usually  held 
in  some  old  town  within  the  province,  and  nearly  all  the 
town  officers,  though  proprietors,  were  not  inhabitants  of 
the  town.  Until  1735,  the  business  of  the  town  and  of  the 
proprietary  was  transacted  at  the  town  meetings.  After 
this  time,  separate  meetings  were  held.  In  1729  the  town 
voted  to  build  a  meeting  house,  which  was  so  far  completeij 
that  the  town  meetings  were  afterwards  holdcn  in  it.  In  the 
following  year,  Rev.  Moses  Hale  was  settled  as  pastor.     In 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  145 

this  year,  the  first  settlers,  who  were  Presbyterians,  formed 
a  society,  and  settled  Rev.  John  Wilson,  after  the  rules  of 
the  kirk  of  Scotland.  In  1738  this  society  erected  a 
meeting  house.  They  resisted  every  attempt  to  set- 
tle a  Congregational  minister  ;  and  after  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Flagg,  a  minister  of  that  profession,  was  settled,  many  of  the 
Presbyterians  refused  to  pay  the  taxes  assessed  upon  them 
for  his  support.  Two  of  them,  James  Campbell  and  John 
Tolford,  were  arrested  by  the  collector  and  lodged  in  jail  in 
Exeter.  After  a  long  and  tedious  lawsuit,  in  which  not  a 
little  of  bigotry  was  manifested  on  both  sides,  the  party 
arrested  obtained  a  decision  in  their  favor ;  and  in  1740 
the  two  societies  were  clothed  with  corporate  powers,  and 
authorized  to  hold  meetings  separately. 

Rev.  Mr.  Flagg,  of  the  Congregational  church,  died  No- 
vember 14,  1796.  Rev.  Nathan  Bradstreet  was  his  suc- 
cessor, and  so  continued  until  1818.  Rev.  Joel  Arnold 
was  settled  March  8,  1820.  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Ulster,  in 
the  north  part  of  Ireland.  He  came  to  this  country  in 
1729,  and  preached  45  years.  After  his  death,  the  church 
was  vacant  24  years.  In  1803  Rev.  Zaccheus  Colby  was 
ordained,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Clement  Parker  in 
1817.  A  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  1819.  At 
present  there  is  a  Congregational  and  a  Methodist  society. 
In  1750  the  south-west  part  of  the  town,  with  a  portion 
of  Londonderry,  was  set  off  to  form  the  present  township 
of  Derry.  In  1763  that  part  of  the  town  called  Chann- 
ingface  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Candia.  In  1765 
another  portion  was  cut  off,  and  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  Raymond.  In  1822  another  portion  was  cut  off, 
to  form,  with  other  tracts,  the  town  of  Ilooksett.  In  1845 
that  portion  of  the  town  known  for  many  years  as  Long 
13 


146  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

Meadows  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Auburn. 
For  some  time  after  the  occupation  of  this  territory  by  the 
whites,  the  Indians  had  a  settlement  of  some  10  or  12 
wigwams  on  an  island  in  Massabesic  Pond,  vestiges  of 
which  still  remain.  The  first  child  born  in  Chester  of 
white  parents  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Ingalls,  who 
lived  to  the  age  of  90  years.  John  Sargent  was  the  first 
male  child  born  of  English  parents  in  this  town,  who  lived 
to  be  nearly  80  years  of  age.  This  town  is  finely  located,  so 
far  as  health  and  longevity  are  considered.  It  is  situated 
about  20  miles  from  the  ocean,  which,  on  a  clear  day,  can 
be  distinctly  seen  from  the  more  elevated  portions.  The 
sea  breezes  are  agreeable  and  exhilarating. 

Population,  1301.  No.  of  polls,  296.  Amount  of  in- 
ventory, $359,892.  Value  of  improved  and  unimproved 
lands,  $237,959.  Number  of  sheep,  619.  Do.  neat  stock, 
916.     Do.  horses,  149. 

Chesterfield,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Westmoreland  and  Keene,  east  by  Keene  and  Swanzey, 
south  by  AYinchester  and  Hinsdale,  and  west  by  Brattlebor- 
ough  and  Dummerston,  Vermont.  Area,  29,437  acres.  62 
miles  south-west  from  Concord,  and  11  south-west  from 
Keene,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  railroad.  This  town  is 
mostly  upland,  well  adapted  for  grazing  and  most  of  the  cereal 
grains.  Few  towns  on  Connecticut  River  have  so  little  inter- 
val. Although  its  western  border  is  washed  by  this  river 
for  a  distance  of  six  miles,  nearly  all  this  space  is  occupied  by 
hills  which  rise  up  from  the  river  side.  Spaflford's  Lake, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  is  indeed  a  charming 
sheet  of  water.  It  is  about  10  miles  in  circumference, 
covers  a  surface  of  about  600  acres,  and  is  fed  by  springs  in 
its  bosom.     Its  waters  are  remarkably  clear  and  pure,  its 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSIIIRE.  147 

bed  consisting  of  a  white  sand.  In  this  lake  is  an  island 
containing  about  six  acres,  a  favorite  resort  of  the  students 
of  the  Academy  in  tliis  town  as  well  as  others.  On  its  east- 
erly side  a  stream  issues  forth,  of  sufficient  size  to  carry 
the  machinery  of  a  cotton  mill,  employing  20  hands  ;  two  bit 
and  auger  factories,  emplopng  the  same  number ;  a  peg 
manufactory,  a  large  tannery,  several  saw  mills,  grist  mills, 
and  other  works. 

West  River  Mountain  (Wantastiquel)  lies  partly  in  this 
town  and  partly  in  Hinsdale.  It  bears  strong  marks  of 
having  once  been  subject  to  volcanic  eruption.  Near  what 
is  supposed  to  have  been  the  crater,  lava  is  now  to  be  found 
in  considerable  quantities.  It  is  said,  by  those  who  live  near 
the  mountain,  that  a  trembhng  motion  is  often  felt  and  a  deep 
rumbling  is  heard  in  its  bowels.  During  the  early  period  of 
the  settlement  of  the  town,  the  inhabitants,  having  discovered 
the  crater,  and  believing  that  it  led  to  a  silver  mine,  procured 
a  lease  of  it.  By  the  terms  of  the  lease,  the  lessees  were  re- 
quired to  dig  at  least  three  days  in  each  yeai\  For  a  long 
time  this  condition  was  faithfully  observed  ;  and  in  the  prog- 
ress of  labor  an  excavation  was  made,  folloAving  the  course 
of  the  crater  downwards  about  100  feet,  principally  through 
a  solid  rock. 

At  the  centre  of  the  town  is  a  pleasant  village.  Here 
is  located  the  Academy,  m  hich  was  opened  in  1794,  and  for 
many  years  was  the  only  academy  in  Cheshire  county.  Its 
advantages  are  good,  and  the  course  of  instruction  pursued 
has  hitherto  met  with  general  approbation. 

Chesterfield  was  granted,  Febi'uary  11,  1752,  to  12  per- 
sons of  the  name  of  Willard,  and  52  others.  The  first  set- 
tlement was  made,  November  25,  1761,  by  Moses  Smith 
and  William  Thomas,  who,  with  their  families,  sailed  up  the 
Connecticut  River  in  a  canoe,  and  made  their  first  "  pitch  " 


148  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Their  chief  subsistence  for 
some  time  consisted  of  shad  and  salmon,  of  which  there 
was  a  great  abundance  in  the  river,  and  deer,  which  were 
numerous  in  the  forest.  The  first  rehgious  society  formed 
in  town  was  Congregational,  in  1771.  Rev.  Abraham 
Wood  was  ordained  December  13,  1772.  A  Baptist 
society  was  incorporated  here  in  1819,  and  a  Universalist 
society  in  1818.  Mrs.  Hannah  Bayley  died  in  this  town 
in  November,  1822,  aged  104  years  and  3  months. 

Population,  1680.  Number  of  polls,  429.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $487,596.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unim- 
proved, |379,400.  Number  of  sheep,  683.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1935.  Do.  horses,  255.  Amount  of  shares  in  cor- 
porations, money  at  interest,  &c.,  $50,940. 

Chichester,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Pittsfield,  east  by  Pittsfield  and  Epsom,  south  by  Pem- 
broke, and  west  by  Loudon  and  Concord.  Area,  11,978 
acres.  This  is  an  excellent  farming  town,  and  yields  abun- 
dantly the  various  kinds  of  produce  raised  in  this  region. 
There  is  no  waste  land,  and  no  elevation  of  importance ; 
so  that,  although  small  in  extent  compared  with  most  other 
towns,  it  nevertheless  contains  a  large  amount  of  easily 
cultivated  soil.  Bear  Hill,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town, 
is  the  only  considerable  eminence.  This  is  under  high  cul- 
tivation. The  east  part  of  the  town  is  watered  by  Suncook 
River,  which  affords  a  few  mill  seats,  and  flows  through 
some  excellent  interval.  The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pm-suits.  Traces  of  Indian  settle- 
ments are  often  discovered,  such  as  chisels,  axes,  &c,,  of 
stone.  The  Pennacooks,  once  a  powerful  tribe,  resided  in 
this  vicinity,  and  their  plantations  were  on  the  banks  of 
the  Suncook  River.     This  town  was  granted,  in  1727,  to 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  149 

Nathaniel  Gookin  and  others,  but  was  not  settled  until 
1758.  In  1791  a  Congregational  society  was  formed,  and 
Rev.  Josiah  Carpenter  ordained.  At  present  there  is  one 
Congregational  society,  one  Methodist,  and  one  Freewill 
Baptist  in  town. 

Population,  999.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  261. 
Inventory,  $279,886.  Number  of  sheep,  889.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1108.  Do.  horses,  164.  Value  of  lands,  improved 
and  unimproved,  $158,449. 

Claremont,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Cor- 
nish, east  by  Newport,  south  by  Unity  and  Charlestown, 
and  west  by  "Weathersfield,  Vermont.  Area,  25,830  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  47  miles,  west.  This  town  is 
watered  by  Connecticut  River  on  its  western  border,  and  by 
Sugar  River,  which  flows  in  a  westerly  direction,  winding 
in  its  course  through  broad  and  fertile  meadows,  until  it 
reaches  the  village  in  the  central  part  of  the  town,  when 
its  fall  is  very  rapid  till  within  about  a  mile  of  the  Con- 
necticut, into  which  it  is  discharged.  Red  Water  Brook 
waters  the  north-east  part  of  the  town.  There  are,  be- 
sides, several  other  small  streams  in  various  parts  of  the 
town.  The  soil  consists  mostly  of  a  rich  gravelly  loam, 
very  deep.  The  surface  is  generally  undulating.  A  large 
poition  of  the  town  consists  of  interval,  or  meadow,  the 
soil  of  which,  in  many  places,  is  very  deep.  The  upland 
farms  are  generally  easily  and  well  cultivated,  and  highly 
productive.  The  town  is  mostly  surmounted  by  high 
hills,  which,  to  some  extent,  ward  off  high  and  bleak  winds. 
Vegetation  is  several  days  earlier  here  than  in  the  sur- 
rounding towns.  Claremont  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being 
the  best  farming  town  in  the  state. 

The  only  eminences  of  note  are  Green  Mountain,  in  the 
13  * 


150  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

easterly,  aud  Barbour's  Mountain,  in  the  westerly,  part  of  the 
town.  Green  mountain  is  based  on  a  mica  slate  founda- 
tion. The  mountain  itself  consists  of  quartz  rock,  ap- 
parently of  regular  stratification,  but  really  of  crystalline 
structure.  On  the  sides  of  the  mountain  are  found  large 
crystals  of  staurotide,  some  of  which  are  very  beautiful. 
From  the  summit  of  this  mountain  the  Connecticut  River 
can  be  seen  for  many  miles,  permeating  through  its  broad 
and  luxuriant  intervals,  dotted  here  and  there  with  a 
radiant  islet,  and  gliding  quietly  by  villages  and  farm 
houses  scattered  along  its  shores  —  the  whole  presenting  a 
landscape  which,  for  variety  and  beauty,  is  seldom  sur- 
passed. The  rock  composing  Twistback  Mountain,  a  small 
eminence,  consists  of  micaceous  slate,  interstratified  with 
small  beds  of  blue  limestone,  somewhat  impure.  Barbour's 
Mountain  is  a  beautiful  swell  of  land,  containing  some  of 
the  best  cultivated  farms  in  the  town. 

The  hills  are  generally  sloping  acclivities,  easily  culti- 
vated on  all  sides,  together  with  their  summits.  The  vil- 
lage of  Claremont,  situated  about  two  miles  east  of  the  Sul- 
livan Railroad  depot  in  this  town,  presents  a  thriving  and 
attractive  appearance.  Scattered  over  a  large  surface,  it 
includes  an  agreeable  variety  of  plain,  terrace,  and  gentle 
declivity.  There  are  five  houses  of  religious  worship, 
each  spacious,  and  exhibiting  a  different,  and  in  some  in- 
stances a  beautiful,  style  of  architecture.  In  the  "  West 
Parish  "  are  two  churches  —  one  Episcopalian,  the  other  Ro- 
man Catholic.  This  is  a  quiet  and  romantic  spot.  The 
mercantile  business  of  this  town  is  considerable.  There 
are  in  the  village  46  stores  —  milliners',  jewellers',  tailors', 
druggists'  shops,  and  grocers'.  There  ai'e  two  banks  —  the 
Claremont  Bank  and  the  Sullivan  Savings  Institution. 
There  are  two  large  shoe  manufactories  here  —  one  fur- 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  151 

nishing  employment  for  40  males  and  36  females,  owned 
by  G.  N.  Farwell  &  Co.,  and  furnishing  25,000  pairs  of 
ladies'  shoes  annually  ;  the  other,  owned  by  Silas  E.  Noyes, 
employing  12  males  and  20  females,  and  furnishing  12,000 
pau's  of  shoes  per  annum. 

The  manufacturing  facilities  of  this  town  are  equalled 
by  few,  if  any,  towns  Avithin  the  state.  The  rapid  fall  of 
Sugar  River  furnishes  immense  water  power  and  numerous 
excellent  mill  seats,  which,  with  Sunapee  Lake  as  a  reser- 
voir, and  the  right,  by  an  act  of  incorporation,  to  draw 
down  the  lake  10  feet,  —  though  this,  as  yet,  has  not  been 
found  necessary,  —  insures  an  abundant  and  constant  sup- 
ply of  water  during  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  fall  of 
this  river  through  the  village,  a  distance  of  about  three 
fourths  of  a  mile,  is  150  feet.  Each  20  feet  of  fall  fur- 
nishes power  sufficient  to  carry  20,000  spindles.  The 
entire  fall  through  the  town  is  250  feet.  These  valuable 
privileges  are  being  rapidly  taken  up.  The  following  are 
the  principal  works  on  this  stream  in  the  village  :  — 

The  Sunapee  Mills,  a  cotton  manufactory,  runs  1320 
mule  spindles,  1280  warp  do.,  and  60  looms.  It  consumes 
104,000  pounds  of  cotton  per  annum.  About  10,000  yards 
of  print  goods  are  manufactured  weekly.  Number  of  hands 
employed,  50.  Capital,  $30,000.  Benjamin  Cozzens 
agent ;  J.  W.  Thompson  superintendent  and  treasurer. 

The  Monadnock  Mills,  a  cotton  manufactory,  in  re- 
spect to  the  extent  of  buildings,  capital,  and  amount  of 
goods  annually  manufactured,  may  justly  be  ranked  among 
the  first  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  The 
entire  length  of  the  factory  building,  with  wheel  house  and 
repair  shop  included,  is  418  feet.  The  main  wings  of  the 
building  are  each  124  feet  in  length,  60  in  width,  and 
5   stories   high,   besides    spacious   attics.     Capital   stock. 


162  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

$200,000.  Number  of  spindles,  15,000.  Do.  looms,  |, 
120  ;  |,  41 ;  |,  24  ;  V'  ^2  ;  ^2,  74  ;  total,  321  —  equal 
to  465  I  looms.  Number  of  male  operatives  employed, 
100.  Do.  females,  300.  Amount  of  stock  consumed  annu- 
ally, 725,000  pounds.  Do.  goods  manufactured,  2,050,000 
square  yards.  Do.  money  annually  paid  to  operatives, 
$75,000.     Jonas  Livingston  agent. 

The  Claremont  Machine  Works  —  a  company  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  engine  lathes  and  planers.  These 
machines  are  finished  to  the  utmost  degree  of  perfection. 
Upon  some  of  them  the  highest  premiums  have  been 
awarded  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  Amount  of  capital  in- 
vested, $15,000.     Number  of  hands  employed,  25. 

The  Home  Mills  —  a  cotton  manufactory.  Capital 
stock,  $30,000.  Number  of  spindles,  2600.  Do.  looms, 
|,  51.  Male  operatives,  18  ;  female,  22.  Amount  of  cot- 
ton consumed  annually,  80,000  pounds.  Yards  of  sheeting 
manufactured  annually,  363,000,  37  inch.  Amount  of 
money  paid  annually  to  operatives,  $7800.  Arnold  Briggs 
agent. 

Sanford  and  Rossiter's  Woollen  Factory.  Thomas  San- 
ford  agent.  Capital  stock  invested,  $40,000.  Goods 
manufactured,  cassimeres.  Number  of  yards  manufactured 
per  annum,  45,000.  Pounds  of  wool  consumed  annually, 
50,000.     Number  of  operatives  employed,  30. 

E.  E.  Bailey's  Silver  Ware  Manufactory.  Capital  in- 
vested, $5000. 

Claremont  Cutlery  Company.  Manufacture  table  cut- 
lery mostly.  Capital  invested,  $30,000.  Manufacture 
from  2000  to  3000  knives  and  forks  per  day.  Consume 
annually  30  tons  of  steel ;  30  do.  cocoa ;  20  do.  ebony  ; 
50  do.  hard  coal ;  30  do.  grindstones ;  2500  bushels 
of  charcoal ;  and    100  cords   of  wood.     Dimensions   of 


GAZETTEEI^   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  153 

main  building,  96  by  40  feet.  Do.  of  forge  shop,  65  by 
24.  100  operatives  are  employed,  with  machinery  suf- 
ficient to  employ  50  additional  hands.  Amount  of  busi- 
ness per  annum,  .$60,000.  The  cutlery  manufactured  at 
this  establishment  has  been  considered  by  large  dealers  as 
superior  to  any  other  manufactured  in  this  country  or 
England. 

Claremont  Manufacturing  Company.  S.  Ide  agent. 
Authorized  capital,  !^500,000.  Incorporated  1832.  This 
company  manufacture  and  sell  paper  and  books.  Amount 
of  capital  paid  in,  $100,000.  They  are  now  running 
3  mills,  with  9  engines.  Amount  of  paper  made,  about 
250  tons  per  year.  Value,  $50,000.  Value  of  books 
manufactured,  $;50,000.  Number  of  hands  employed  — 
males,  40  ;  females,  50. 

There  are  also  two  weekly  papers  published  in  Clare- 
mont —  the  National  Eagle  and  the  Northern  Advocate. 

Claremont  was  granted,  October  26,  1764,  to  Josiah  Wil- 
lard,  Samuel  Ashly,  and  67  others.  It  received  its  name 
in  honor  lof  Lord  Clive,  a  distinguished  English  general, 
who  then  had  charge  of  the  British  forces  in  the  East 
Indies.  The  first  settlement  Avas  made  in  1762,  by  Moses 
Spafibrd  and  David  Lynde.  The  first  white  native  of 
Claremont  w^as  Elijah,  son  of  Moses  SpafFord,  born  in 
1763.  The  first  settled  minister  in  the  town  was  Rev. 
George  Wheatoti,  of  the  Congregational  faith.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Rev.  Augustine  Ilibbard,  who  was  settled  in 
1774 ;  dismissed  in  1785.  Rev.  John  Tappan  was  ordained 
March  7,  1796 ;  dismissed  in  September,  1802.  It  is  now  a 
large  and  flourishing  society.  The  first  minister  of  the 
Episcopal  church  in  this  town  was  Rev.  Ranna  Cossitt, 
who  took  holy  orders  in  England  in  1772,  and  in  the 
following  year  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  sacred  office. 


154  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

Kev.  Daniel  Barber  succeeded  him  in  August,  1775,  smd 
was  dismissed  in  1818.  Rev.  James  B.  Howe  succeeded 
him  in  1819.  There  are  two  Episcopalian  churches  in  this 
town;  the  one  in  the  "West  Parish"  was  erected  in  1773, 
now  under  the  charge  of  Eev.  H.  S.  Smith.  The  number 
of  communicants  is  about  50.  The  other,  Trinity  Church, 
was  erected  in  1852,  at  a  cost  of  $10,200,  and  is  a  splen- 
did edifice  of  the  Elizabethan  Gothic  style.  This  church  is 
under  the  charge  of  the  Right  lie  v.  Carlton  Chase,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  New  Hampshire,  and  contains  about  225  coni- 
ng unicants. 

A  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  1785,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  Rev.  John  Peckens  was  ordained.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  Peake  in  1788.  This  society  is  now 
in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  Methodist  society  was  formed  in  1809.  Rev.  Caleb 
Dustin  Avas  the  pastor  for  many  years,  and  was  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

The  Universalist  society  was  formed  in  1826,  and  for 
several  years  had  only  occasional  preaching.  For  some 
time  past,  however,  the  society  has  been  under  the  care  of 
a  settled  minister. 

Hon.  Caleb  Ellis  was  a  resident  of  this  town.  In  1804 
he  was  chosen  member  of  Congress,  which  office  he  held 
two  years.  In  1813  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court,  in  which  office  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1816. 
Hon.  George  B.  Upham,  a  citizen  of  this  town,  was  a 
member  of  Congress  in  1801,  which  office  he  held  two  years. 
He  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  by  his  industry  and  close 
application  became,  from  a  poor  young  man,  one  of  the 
most  wealthy  men  in  New  Hampshire.  He  died  February 
iO,  1848,  aged  79. 

Population  in   1854,  4376.     Number  of  polls,  1013. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  XSf& 

Inventory,  $2,090,7-12.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and 
unimproved,  $940,256.  Number  of  sheep,  6349.  Do. 
neat  stock,  2445.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  602. 

Clarksville,  Coiis  county.  Bounded  north  by  l^itts- 
burg,  east  by  grant  to  Gilmanton  Academy,  south  by 
Stewartstown,  and  -west  by  Canaan,  Vermont.  Distance 
from  Concord,  150  miles,  north.  This  is  almost  the  north- 
ern limit  of  the  state,  there  being  but  one  town  beyond  it, 
with  which  it  is  classed,  for  the  election  of  representative. 
The  soil  is  rugged,  and  not  very  productive ;  the  surface 
is  broken  and  hilly.  There  arc  two  ponds  —  one,  Clarksville 
Pond,  containing  about  100  acres;  the  other,  Carr  Pond, 
covering  about  30  acres.  There  are  several  tributaries  to 
the  Connecticut  within  this  town,  but  no  streams  of  con- 
siderable size.     This  town  was  incorporated  June,  1854. 

Population,  187.  Number  of  polls,  54.  Amount  of 
inventory,  ,$38,571.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unim- 
proved, $15,467.  Number  of  sheep,  285.  Do.  neat 
stock,  257.     Do.  horses,  41.  ■ 

Colebrook,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Stewarts- 
town,  east  by  Dixville,  south  by  Columbia,  and  west  by 
Vermont.  Ai-ea,  25,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
140  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster,  35,  north.  This  town  is 
watered  by  Mohawk  River  and  Blue  Brook,  the  former 
containing  excellent  mill  seats  and  water  privileges.  The 
soil  is  rich,  and  generally  easily  cultivated.  Intervals  of 
good  quality  and  of  considerable  extent  stretch  along  the 
Connecticut ;  and  the  upknds,  of  moderate  ascent,  are  fer- 
tile. This  is  a  town  of  considerable  enterprise.  The 
people  are  industrious,  engaged  chietiy  in  agriculture  and 


156  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

the  manufacture  of  lumber.  There  is  an  academy  here, 
with  a  fund  of  $1200. 

This  town  was  originally  granted  to  Sir  George  Cole- 
brook.     It  was  incorporated  in  1790. 

Population,  908.  Number  of  polls,  219.  Amount  of 
inventory,  $217,569.  Do.  money  at  interest  or  on  deposit, 
$29,485.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unimproved, 
$94,548.  Do.  mills  and  stock  in  trade,  $11,264.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  1586.    Do.  neat  stock,  1194.   Do.  horses,  234. 

Columbia,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Colebrook, 
east  by  Dixville  and  ungranted  lands,  south  by  ungranted 
lands  and  Strafford,  and  west  by  Vermont.  Area,  37,822 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  135  miles,  north ;  from  Lan- 
caster, 30,  north.  The  surface  of  the  town  is  uneven,  and 
broken  by  mountains  along  its  southern  limits.  From  these 
elevations  descend  a  number  of  streams  in  a  westerly  direc- 
tion into  the  Connecticut,  yielding  an  ample  supply  of  water 
for  the  soil,  and  affording  many  excellent  water  privileges. 
There  are  several  small  ponds  in  this  town,  the  most  re- 
markable of  which  is  Lime  Pond,  situated  about  two  miles 
south-east  from  Chamberlain's  Town,  in  Colebrook,  and  near 
the  town  line,  on  a  small  branch  of  Simm's  Stream.  This  pond 
is  160  rods  in  length,  50  wide,  and  of  an  irregular,  ellipti- 
cal shape.  Its  bottom  is  covered  to  a  depth  of  6  feet  with 
white,  calcareous  marl  of  great  purity,  which  is  formed  by 
myriads  of  shells  of  the  cyclas  and  planorbis  species,  im- 
mense hordes  of  which  are  still  living  in  the  waters  of  the 
pond,  and  are  generally  found  collected  under  loose  stones. 
Around  the  shores  considerable  quantities  of  impure  blue 
and  gray  limestone  are  found.  The  calcareous  matter  is 
generally  derived  from  a  neighboring  peat  swamp.     This 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  157 

marl  is  readily  burned,  and  converted  into  excellent  lime 
for  building  purposes.  A  short  distance  from  this  place  is 
Fish  Pond,  the  waters  of  which  swarm  with  trout  of  fine 
size.  At  the  outlet  of  this  pond,  limestone  occurs  in  con- 
siderable quantity.  The  soil  in  this  town  is  generally 
strong  and  productive.  Lumber  is  extensively  manufac- 
tured here,  and  conveyed  to  market  by  rafts  down  the 
Connecticut.  Large  quantities  of  maple  sugar  are  also 
made. 

This  toAvn  was  granted  in  1770,  and  named  Cockburne, 
in  honor  of  Sir  James  Cockburne,  one  of  the  grantees.  It 
was  incorporated  December  16,  1797.  It  received  its 
present  name  in  June,  1811. 

There  are  two  religious  societies  established  here,  —  the 
Methodist  and  Baptist,  —  each  of  which  has  a  mieeting  house 
for  worship. 

Population,  762.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  175. 
Inventory,  $141,187.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  un- 
improved, $73,178.  Number  of  sheep,  1539.  Do.  neat 
stock,  997.     Do.  horses,  168. 

Concord,  Merrimack  county,  the  capital  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  is  bounded  north  by  Canterbury  and  Bos- 
cawen,  east  by  Loudon  and  Pembroke,  south  by  Bow  and 
Hopkinton,  and  west  by  Hopkinton  and  Boscawen.  Lati- 
tude, 42°  12'  north.  Area,  40,919  acres,  about  1800  of 
which  are  covered  with  water.  There  are  five  ponds  in 
Concord,  the  largest  of  which  are  Turkey  Pond,  in  the 
south-west,  and  Long  Pond,  in  the  north-west,  part  of  the 
town.  The  streams  flowincr  from  these  afford  several  valu- 
able  mill  seats  and  privileges.  The  Contoocook  enters 
the  west  comer  of  the  town,  and,  uniting  with  the  Merri- 
mack on  the  north-west  line,  forms  at  the  confluence  the 
14 


158  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

island  celebrated  as  the  spot  where  IMrs.  Dustan  effected 
her  escape,  after  slaying  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  cap- 
tured her.  (See  Boscawen.)  The  Merrimack  is  the  prin- 
cipal stream  in  this  region,  and,  running  nearly  through 
the  centre  of  the  town,  its  borders  are  beautified  and 
adorned  by  rich  and  highly  cultivated  intervals.  Concord 
is  very  rapidly  increasing  in  business,  population,  and 
wealth  by  the  extension  of  numerous  railroads  in  various 
directions,  and  its  favorable  location  for  securing  the  trade 
of  the  surrounding  towns,  as  well  as  by  reason  of  the 
almost  infinite  variety  of  manufacturing  and  mechanical 
work  carried  on  within  its  limits. 

Concord  is  built  upon  the  sandy  diluvium  of  the  Merri- 
mack, through  which  a  fine-grained  white  granite  is  occa- 
sionally seen,  forming  low  ridges  of  hills.  In  the  west  par- 
ish is  a  large  quarry  of  this  rock,  which  has  been  worked 
for  many  years.  Large  quantities  have  been  used  in  this 
vicinity  and  also  in  Boston.  This  town  was  the  favorite 
resort  and  home  of  a  considerable  tribe  of  Indians  called 
the  Pennacooks.  At  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  eastern 
New  Hampshire  they  had  been  much  reduced  in  numbers 
and  strength  by  their  frequent  wars,  especially  with  their 
formidable  enemies  the  Mohawks.  Tradition,  authenti- 
cated by  several  circumstances,  says  that  their  principal 
stronghold  was  a  fortified  bluff  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Merrimack,  opposite  the  north  end  of  Main  Street.  In 
one  of  the  last  conflicts  between  these  two  tribes,  one 
division  of  the  Mohavi-ks  advanced  down  along  the  west 
side  of  the  river ;  and,  as  the  Pennacooks  had  fled  to  their 
fort  on  the  east  bluff,  the  former  made  a  show  of  attack,  as 
if  about  to  cross  the  stream  and  take  the  fortress  by  storm. 
Meanwhile  their  main  body  had  crossed  the  river  some 
distance  above,  and,  coming  down  on  the  east  side,  rushed 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  159 

across  the  narrow  strip  of  plain  land  leading  to  the  bluff, 
which  was  protected  on  the  west  by  the  river,  and  on  the 
north  and  south  by  deep  ravines.  The  hostile  parties 
meeting  on  this  narrow  plain,  a  bloody  battle  ensued  ;  and 
though  the  Pennacooks  kept  possession  of  their  stronghold, 
yet  it  was  at  immense  sacrifice  of  life.  The  Mohawks, 
sadly  reduced  in  numbers,  retired  to  their  own  country  — 
New  York.  Could  the  details  of  that  bloody  scene  be 
accurately  traced,  we  doubtless  might  record  instances  of 
valor  and  intrepidity  which  would  equal,  or  even  surpass, 
the  noblest  efforts  of  the  pale  tribes  in  their  more  scientific 
and  civilized  modes  of  warfare.  Hon.  J.  C.  Potter,  whose 
birthplace  Avas  on  this  battle  ground,  says  that  he  has 
found  undoubted  relics  of  this  well-fought  field.  At  the 
time  of  the  first  English  settlement,  a  small  number  of 
Pennacooks  remained  of  all  the  multitude  who  once  found 
ample  subsistence  on  this  their  favorite  planting,  hunting, 
and  fishing  ground.  Rapidly  they  dwindled  away,  until 
a  few  years  witnessed  the  end  of  the  last  of  the  Penna- 
cooks. 

This  place  Avas  first  visited  by  the  whites  in  1639.  It 
was  granted  in  172o,  under  the  name  of  the  "Plantation 
of  Pennacook,"  to  Benjamin  Stevens,  Ebenezcr  Stevens, 
and  others,  by  Massachusetts,  who  claimed  jurisdiction  of 
the  territory  by  virtue  of  the  grant  in  the  royal  charter  of 
the  county,  extending  northerly  to  "  three  miles  north  of 
the  IMerrimack  River."  In  1726,  103  house  lots  were 
laid  out  on  the  river,  and  about  50  persons*  were  employed 
during  the  warm  season  in  building  and  agriculture. 
The  erection  of  a  meeting  house  and  works  of  defence 
Avas  commenced  this  year,  and  finished  in  1727.  The 
dwelling  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  "Walker  Avas  built  at  the 
same  time,  and,  though  somewhat  modernized,  is  yet  stand- 


ft 


160  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

big,  and  occupied  by  J.  B.  Walker,  one  of  liis  descendants. 
It  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  two-story  house  between  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  and  Canada.  Another,  built  in  1727 
by  Edward  Abbott,  is  yet  standing,  though  degraded  to 
the  station  of  a  barn.  It  stands  on  Montgomery  Street, 
near  Dr.  T.  Chadbourne's.  In  this  house  was  born,  Feb- 
ruary, 1728,  the  first  child  of  English  parents  —  Dorcas, 
daughter  of  E.  Abbott,  who  died  in  1797.  The  first  male 
child  was  born  of  the  same  parents  in  1730.  He  died  in 
1801.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  January  11,  1732, 
and  Captain  Ebenezer  Eastman  was  chosen  moderator. 
In  1733  an  act  of  incorporation,  including  a  space  about 
seven  miles  square,  was  passed  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  under  which  the  territory  received  the  name 
of  Rumford,  from  a  parish  of  that  name  in  England.  In 
1762,  by  an  order  of  the  king  in  council,  Rumford  was  de- 
clared within  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Hampshire.  In 
1765  this  town  was  incorporated  by  New  Hampshire  un- 
der the  name  of  Concord. 

In  1739,  in  apprehension  of  an  attack  from  the  Indians, 
the  town  built  a  garrison,  enclosing  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Walker.  In  1742  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Eastman  was 
captured  by  the  Indians  and  taken  to  Canada.  She  was 
redeemed  by  her  friends  some  time  after,  and  returned  to 
them.  No  serious  attacks,  however,  were  made  by  the 
Indians  until  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1744.  On 
the  8th  of  August,  1746,  about  100  Indians  from  Canada 
stationed  themselves  near  the  settlement,  with  the  design 
of  destroying  it.  The  same  day  a  company  of  40  men 
from  Exeter  came  to  the  rescue  ;  making,  with  the  two 
companies  already  stationed  here,  a  very  respectable  force. 
The  savages  hoped  by  waiting  until  the  Sabbath  to  surprise 
the  inhabitants  while  at  worship.     But  the  people  went 


GAZETTEER    OF  NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  161 

turned,  and,  having  discovered  the  enemy,  inarched  against 
them  and  put  them  to  flight.  Despairing  of  success  in 
their  original  plan,  the  Indians  withdrew  and  lay  in  am- 
bush, determined  to  kill  or  capture  all  who  might  fall  with- 
in their  reach.  On  Monday,  August  11th,  seven  of  the 
inhabitants,  all  armed,  set  out  for  Hopkinton.  One  of  the 
party,  having  proceeded  farther  than  tlie  rest,  sat  down, 
about  a  mile  from  the  village,  to  await  the  approach  of  liis 
friends.  The  Indians  rose  from  their  place  of  concealment 
and  killed  him.  His  companions,  among  whom  ^vas  Jona- 
than Bradley,  had  just  gained  the  summit  of  the  hill  when 
the  firing  took  place  ;  and  being  deceived  as  to  the  number 
of  the  enemy,  Bradley,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  party, 
ordered  his  men  to  fire  and  rush  upon  them.  The  Avhole 
body  of  Indians  then  arose,  and,  being  about  100  in  num- 
ber, completely  surrounded  Bradley  and  his  handful  of  men. 
Bradley  now  urged  his  men  to  save  themselves  if  possible. 
Flight  Avas  out  of  the  question.  Samuel  Bradley  was  shot 
through  the  body,  stripped  of  his  clothing,  and  scalped. 
To  Jonathan  they  offered  quarter,  as  some  of  their  number 
were  acquainted  with  hini ;  but,  scorning  their  offer,  he 
fought  his  overpowering  foe  with  desperation  until  he  was 
struck  down,  and,  with  the  knives  and  tomahawks  of  the 
Indians,  horribly  mangled  and  scalped.  Two  others,  John 
Bean  and  John  Lufkin,  Mere  killed.  Alexander  Roberts 
and  William  Stickney  were  made  prisafiers  and  taken  to 
Canada.  As  soon  as  the  alarm  was  given,  the  soldiers  in 
the  garrison  and  several  of  the  inhabitants  hastened  to  the 
place  of  conflict.  At  their  approach  the  savages  fled,  leav- 
ing behind  their  dead  and  wounded.  The  bodies  of  Bradley 
and  his  companions  were  brought  in  and  interred  on  the 
following  day.  Six  of  the  Indians  were  killed  and  several 
wounded.  A  granite  monument  was  erected  on  the  spot 
14* 


162 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    13. 


where  Bradley  and  his  associates  fell,  by  Richard  Bradley, 
Esq.,  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Bradley. 

It  is,  perhaps,  somewhat  remarkable  that  many  of  the 
descendants  of  the  first  settlers  are  residents  in  Concord,  and 
occupy  the  same  homesteads  where  their  ancestors  settled. 
Among  these  are  the  Walkers,  Bradleys,  Eolfes,  Stickneys, 
Eastmans,  &c. ;  and  few  of  the  ancient  estates  have  been 
squandered  or  lost  by  prodigality. 

Concord  became  the  permanent  seat  of  government  of 
New  Hampshire  in  1805.  In  1816  the  building  of 
the  State  House  was  commenced.  It  was  first  occupied  in 
1819.  The  centre  of  the  building  is  50  feet  in  front  by 
57  in  depth.  The  wings  are  each  38  feet  in  front  by  49  in 
depth  —  the  whole  126  feet  front.  The  outside  walls  are 
hammered  granite.  The  grounds  extend  from  Main  Street 
to  State  Street,  and  contain  two  acres,  beautifully  laid  out  and 
ornamented  with  a  variety  of  shade  trees,  and  substantially 
enclosed.  The  entu'e  cost  of  the  building  and  grounds 
was  $82,000.  In  this  building  is  the  Ecpresentatives 
Hall,  with  an  arched  or  dome-shaped  ceiling  rising  30 
feet  from  the  floor,  the  Senate  and  Council  Chambers, 
offices  for  secretary,  treasurer,  adjutant  general,  the  State 
Library,  and  rooms  for  committees. 

With  the  formation  of  the  county  of  Merrimack,  in 
1823,  Concord  became  the  county  seat,  and  the  county 
courts  have  been  held  here  since  that  time.  By  an  act  of 
the  legislature,  passed  in  1852,  the  Superior  Court  holds 
its  sessions  in  Concord  for  all  the  counties  in  the  state. 

Court  House.  —  As  the  present  ancient  structure  is  soon 
to  be  superseded  by  a  new  and  elegant  edifice,  the  erection 
of  which  is  to  be  commenced  this  year,  (1854,)  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  say  that  it  is  a  relic  of  antiquity  and  of  uncomely 
proportions.     It  was  occupied  many  years  as  a  state  house, 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  168 

and  more  recently  as  a  town  hall  and  seat  of  justice. 
The  new  City  Hall  and  County  Rooms  are  to  be  construct- 
ed on  the  most  approved  style  of  architecture,  commodious, 
and  located  in  the  centre  of  spacious  grounds  now  the  prop- 
erty of  the  city.  The  whole  work  is  to  be  completed  in 
185^. 

The  County  Jail  is  a  new  and  beautiful  edifice,  built  of 
brick^  and  is  situated  one  mile  west  of  the  State  House.  Its 
location  is  pleasant,  and  its  grounds  capacious  and  taste- 
fully arranged,  and  in  a  few  years  it  will  be  ornamented  with 
a  growth  of  shade  and  fruit  trees. 

The  State  Prison  is  located  in  State  Street.  The  central 
part  and  the  south  wing  were  erected  in  1812,  at  which 
time  the  institution  went  into  operation.  In  1833  a  north 
wing  was  added,  its  form  and  style  corresponding  with 
the  improvements  of  the  age.  In  this  building  are  the 
hospital,  cook  rooms,  and  a  hall,  with  cells  for  120  convicts. 
The  hall  is  warmed  by  steam  and  lighted  with  gas.  The 
cooking  is  also  done  with  steam.  The  entire  expense  of 
this  building  was  about  $60,000.  The  yard,  including 
nearly  two  acres,  is  enclosed  by  a  heavy  wall  of  granite. 
The  workshops  are  well  arranged  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  convicts  in  their  several  employments,  which  con- 
sist of  shoemaking,  blacksmithiug,  and  cabinet  work. 
There  are  regular  religious  services  eacli  Sabbath,  and 
instruction  imparted  to  all  such  of  the  convicts  as  are 
unable  to  read* or  write.  There  is  connected  with  this 
institution  a  library  of  800  volumes,  judiciously  selected, 
with  a  view  solely  to  the  moral  improvement  of  the  con- 
victs. The  prison  has  for  many  years  been  well  managed, 
and  will  compare  favorably  with  any  institution  of  the  kind 
in  this  or  other  countries. 

For  several  years  the  proceeds  of  the  labor  of  the  pris- 


164 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    lb. 


oners  have  been  sufficient  to  defray  all  expenses  of  the  insti- 
tution, besides  a  surplus  of  $1500  to  $3400  as  net  income. 

Number  of  convicts  in  prison,  committed,  discharged,  pardoned,  deceased,  and 
escaped  in  each  year  since  the  establishmeM  of  the  institution  in  1812. 


Year. 

In  Prison 

Com- 
mitted. 

1 

Dis- 
charged. 

Pardon 'd 

Removed 
to  Insane 
Asylum. 

Died. 

Escaped. 

1812 

1 

1 

1813 

12 

11 

1814 

22 

14 

4 

1815 

23 

13 

5 

2 

5 

1816 

48 

31 

5 

1 

1817 

59 

29 

13 

3 

1 

1 

1818 

69 

26 

16 

1819 

62 

17 

20 

1 

1 

2 

1820 

61 

18 

15 

2 

2 

1821 

65 

23 

15 

2 

2 

1822 

57 

16 

19 

2 

3 

1823 

66 

26 

11 

5 

1 

1824 

62 

19 

17 

5 

1 

1825 

66 

24 

13 

3 

1 

2 

1826 

59 

13 

15 

4 

-  1 

1827 

48 

12 

14 

7 

2 

1828 

56 

20 

8 

4 

1829 

50 

11 

9 

7 

1 

1830 

68 

31 

9 

4 

1831 

81 

24 

8 

3 

1832 

82 

19 

10 

6 

1 

1 

1833 

81 

16 

8 

9 

1834 

79 

13 

4 

11 

1835 

78 

23 

6 

16 

2 

1836 

86 

21 

8 

4 

1 

1837 

72 

12 

15 

10 

1 

1838 

70 

5 

4 

3 

1839 

73 

30 

10 

15 

2 

1840 

78 

24 

4 

14 

1 

1841 

84 

28 

13 

7 

2 

1842 

92 

20 

9 

3 

1843 

99 

28 

17 

4 

1844 

89 

25 

19 

16 

1 

1845 

81 

14 

8 

12 

2 

1846 

74 

30 

12 

22 

1 

1847 

61 

14 

12 

13 

1 

1848 

77 

42 

11 

14 

1 

1849 

82 

17 

9 

2 

1 

1860 

91 

36 

10 

14 

1 

2 

1861 

96 

26 

7 

11 

1 

1 

1862 

111 

44 

11 

11 

6 

1853 

109 

24 

9 

15 

2 

1864 

105   1 

28 

13 

13 

6 

I 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


166 


The  Asylum  for  the  Insane  is  situated  on  a  delightful 
eminence  three  fourths  of  a  mile  south-west  of  the  State 
House.  The  buildings  are  spacious  and  convenient.  The 
style  of  architecture  is  rather  with  reference  to  substantial 
purposes  than  otherwise.  The  buildings  consist  of  a  main 
or  central  body,  48  by  44  feet,  four  stories  high,  erected 
in  1843 ;  a  north  wing,  90  by  36  feet,  four  stories  high, 
erected  in  1852 ;  and  a  commodious  building  designed 
for  unsafe  and  turbulent  maniacs.  An  appropriation  of 
$20,000  has  been  made  by  the  legislature  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  south  Aving  corresponding  with  the  north  wing. 
There  is  connected  with  the.  institution  a  valuable  farm, 
the  labor  upon  which  is  performed  by  the  inmates  of  the 
asylum.  This  institution  has  an  excellent  reputation, 
and  has  continued  to  increase,  not  only  in  the  number  com- 
mitted to  its  care,  but  correspondingly  in  the  number  dis- 
charged as  wholly  or  partially  recovered.  Dr.  John  E, 
Tyler  is  at  present  the  superintendent.  Its  productive 
funds  amount  to  $33,000  —  .$15,000  of  which  was  a  legacy 
of  the  late  Countess  Rumford,  and  $3000  of  the  late  Mr. 
Chandler.  The  following  table  will  show  the  progress  and 
success  of  the  institution  from  its  commencement :  — 


Statistics  from  the  opening  of  the  asylum  to  Ju)ie  1,  1854. 


Admit- 

Dis- 

Recov- 

Partially 

Unim- 

Whole 

Remain- 

Year. 

ted. 

charged. 

ered. 

recovered 

proved. 

6 

Died. 
1 

No. 

iog. 

1843 

76 

29 

12 

10 

76 

47 

1844 

104 

81 

37 

20 

19 

5 

151 

70 

1845 

88 

82 

37 

17 

22 

6 

158 

76 

1846 

98 

76 

26 

23 

16 

11 

174 

98 

1847 

89 

87 

38 

17 

23 

9 

187 

100 

1848 

92 

83 

29 

20 

26 

8 

192 

109 

1849 

81 

76 

36 

15 

11 

14 

190 

114 

1850 

103 

90 

46 

18 

20 

7 

217 

127 

1851 

88 

98 

45 

25 

16 

12 

215 

117 

1852 

107 

106 

66 

13 

16 

11 

224 

118 

1853 

132 

107 

63 

25 

11 

8 

250 

143 

1854 

141 

123 

63 

24 

22 

14 

284 

161 

Whole  number  ever  admitted,  1199. 


166  NEW    HAMPSHIBE    AS   IT   IS. 

The  Rolfe  and  Rumford  Asylum  for  widows  and  orphans 
was  founded  by  the  late  Countess  Rumford,  who  gave  her 
beautiful  country  seat,  situated  about  one  mile  south  from  the 
State  House,  and  the  sum  of  $20,000,  as  a  fund  for  its 
endowment.     It  has  not  yet  been  put  in  operation. 

The  Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute.  —  The  prin- 
cipal building  of  this  institution  was  built  for  and  occupied 
as  the  Town  Meeting  House.  It  was  erected  in  1751,  and 
until  1820  was,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  Quaker 
meeting  house,  the  only  house  of  worship  in  Concord. 
It  is  beautifully  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  city,  at 
the  junction  of  Main  and  State  Streets.  It  was  repaired 
and  changed  in  its  internal  arrangements  to  a  very  con- 
venient edifice,  and  opened  for  its  present  uses,  in  the  fall 
of  1846.  Since  that  time  it  has  enjoyed  increasing  pros- 
perity. During  the  present  year  there  have  been  in  attend- 
ance 90  students.  The  property  of  the  institution  is  ap- 
praised at  $50,750  50.  The  students  have  maintained  an 
excellent  reputation  with  the  citizens,  and  are  very  useful 
—  supplying  many  churches  in  the  neighboring  towns  with 
preaching  in  the  temporary  absence  of  the  stated  preacher, 
and  otherwise  advancing  the  cause  of  religion.  Faculty : 
Rev.  John  Dempster,  D.  D.,  Rev.  S.  M.  Vail,  A.  M.,  and 
Rev.  J.  W.  Merrill,  D.  D. 

Education.  —  There  is  a  high  school,  taught  by  G.  S. 
Barnes,  A.  M.,  and  four  select  schools.  There  is  no  incor- 
porated academy.  The  common  schools  are  well  conducted. 
In  the  populous  parts  of  the  city,  the  school  houses  are  all 
of  liberal  and  commodious  construction.  Some  have  been 
built  without,  at  least,  a  penurious  regard  for  expense. 
These  schools  arc  conducted  according  to  the  graduated 
system,  including  instruction  in  the  first  elements,  as 
well  as  the  higher  branches  of  English  education. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  167 

The  whole  number  of  scholars  for  the  year  1854  was 
2300.  The  amount  of  money  expended,  ^5536  —  being 
$2,40|  to  each  scholar. 

Incorporated  Companies.  Banks.  —  Mechanics' Bank, 
capital  stock,  $100,000  ;  Merrimack  County  Bank,  $80,- 
000;  State  Capital,  $150,000  ;  New  Hampshire  Savings 
Bank. 

Insurance  Companies.  —  New  Hampshire  Mutual ;  New 
England  Mutual ;  Columbian  Mutual ;  Equitable  Mutual ; 
Union  Mutual ;  People's  Mutual. 

Railroads.  —  The  Concord  Railroad  extends  from  Nashua, 
up  the  ]\Ierrimack,  to  Concord.  Length,  34 1  miles.  It 
was  opened  for  travel  September  1,  184^.  Expense  of 
construction,  including  depot  and  all  running  equipage, 
$1,450,000.  The  depot  is  a  splendid  building  —  large, 
commodious,  with  a  spacious  hall,  and  other  convenient 
rooms. 

The  Northern  Ilailroad  extends  from  Concord  to  West 
Lebanon,  at  White  River  junction.  Length,  69  miles. 
The  lower  section  was  opened  in  1846,  the  upper  in  1847. 

The  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad  extends 
from  Concord  to  North  Haverhill.  The  first  section  was 
opened  for  travel  May  10,  1848.  It  was  completed  in 
1853.     Length,  92i  miles. 

The  ]\Ierrimack  and  Connecticut  River  Railroad  was 
opened  for  travel  to  Warner  September  20,  1849. 

The  Portsmouth  and  Concord  Railroad  is  now  com- 
pleted, and  is  doing  a  prosperous  business.  Length,  47 
miles. 

AH  these  roads  centre  in  Concord,  which  add  greatly 
to  its  importance  as  a  place  of  business. 

Hotels.  —  The  American  House  is  kept  by  John  P.  Gass  j 
the  Eagle  Hotel,  John  P.  Gibson;  the  Phoenix  House, 


168  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Dumas  &  Stickney  ;  the  Union  House,  Stevens  ;  the  Pavil- 
ion, George  Dame  ;  the  Elm  House,  W.  M.  Carter  ;  the 
Columbian  House,  Norton  ;  Hotel  at  Fisherville,  Durgin. 

The  first  of  these  may  be  styled  as  public  houses  of 
the  fii-st  class  ;  all  are  respectable,  and  receive  a  large  pat- 
ronage. 

Houses  of  Worship.  —  Congregational,  5  ;  Methodist 
Episcopal,  2  ;  Calvinist  Baptist,  3  ;  FreeAvill  Baptist,  1  ; 
Episcopal,   1  ;  Unitarian,   1  ;  Universalist,  1  ;  Advent,  1. 

Professional  Men.  Clergymen.  —  Congregationalist, 
7  ;  Methodist,  9 ;  Calvinist  Baptist,  4  ;  Freewill  Baptist, 
1  ;  Episcopalian,  1  ;  Unitarian,  1  ;  Universalist,  1  ;  Ad- 
vent, 1.  Of  the  ministers,  one  Congregationalist  is  ed- 
itor of  a  paper,  and  one  chaplain  of  the  Insane  Asylum  ; 
of  the  Methodists,  one  is  a  bishop,  three  professors  in  the 
Theological  Institution,  and  one  chaplain  of  the  State  Pris- 
on ;  of  the  Baptists,  one  is  agent  for  the  Education  Society. 

Physicians.  —  Allopathic,  1 1 ;  homoeopathic,  3  ;  hydro- 
pathic, 1  ;  botanic,  1  ;  dentists,  3. 

There  are  in  Concord  28  lawyers. 

Newspapers.  —  There  are  published  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Patriot,  New  Hampshire  Statesman,  Congregational 
Journal,  Independent  Democrat,  State  Capital  Reporter, 
Baptist  Observer,  and  New  Hampshire  Phoenix.  In  these 
establishments  60  men  are  employed. 

Statistics    of  Trade.  —  Dry  goods   and  groceries,  50 
merchant  tailors,  11  ;  hardware  stores,  5  ;  shoe  stores,  9 
tinware    and    stoves,   4  ;    saddle,   harness,  and   trunk,  5 
book  stores,  5  ;   apothecary  stores,  5  ;   hat,  cap,  and  fur 
stores,  3  ;  millinery,  6  ;  confectionery  and  toy  shops,  4  ; 
furniture  stores,  3.     Total,  109. 

Statistics  of  Labor.  —  The  number  of  persons  engaged 
in  the  following  pursuits  is,  carriage   manufactory,  340; 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  169 

in  trade,  300  ;  on  railroads  and  depots,  270  ;  shoemakers 
estimated  at  200  ;  makers  of  musical  instruments,  52  ; 
printing  and  publishing,  60  ;  bookbinding,  16  ;  on  granite 
quarry,  30  ;  furnace  and  iron  foundery,  24  ;  manufacturers 
of  cotton  goods,  200  ;  woollen  do.,  50  ;  harness  and  trunk, 
27  ;  professional  men,  71. 

About  500  men  are  engaged  in  the  occupations  common 
to  New  England  towns.  There  is  a  large  number  of  house 
builders,  painters,  masons,  &c.  There  are  in  this  town 
20 'grist  and  sawmills.  An  idle  man  or  a  gentleman  of 
leisure  is  a  curiosity  in  Concord. 

Manufacturing.  —  The  manufacture  of  coaches  and  car- 
riages has  been  carried  on  extensively  for  several  years, 
formerly  by  the  firm  of  Downing  &  Abbott,  latterly  by 
several  companies.  The  fame  of  Abbott  &  Co.  and  Down- 
ing &  Co.  is  widespread.  Their  work,  it  is  admitted,  is 
unrivalled.  All  kinds  of  carriages  are  sent  from  their  shops 
to  every  state  in  the  Union,  to  Canada,  Australia,  Mex- 
ico, and  South  America.  The  establishments  of  Messrs. 
Ingalls,  Griffin,  &  Titcombe  are  of  recent  date,  though  in 
good  repute.  The  number  of  men  employed  by  Abbott  & 
Co.  is  200.  They  manufacture  annually  800  carriages  of 
all  sorts.  Amount  of  sales  per  annum,  $>  150,000.  Cap- 
ital invested,  $100,000.  The  number  of  men  employed 
by  Downing  &  Co.  is  80 ;  by  Griffin,  30 ;  by  Ingalls, 
25  ;  by  Titcombe,  5. 

The  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes  is  carried  on  to  a 
considerable  extent,  but  mostly  by  private  individuals  or 
small  firms.  The  number  engaged  in  this  branch  of  in- 
dustry, as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  is  200. 

The  manufacture  of  musical  instruments  is  an  important 
branch  of  industrial  pursuit  in  Concord.     There  are  three 
firms  engaged  in  this  business  —  viz.,  Prescott  &  Brothers, 
15 


170  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

employing  20  men  ;  Liscombe  &  Dearborn,  employing  14 
men ;  Charles  Austin,  who  employs  18  men. 

BooJcbinding.  —  Messrs.  Merrill  &  Merriam  employ  6 
men ;  jMonill  &  Silsby  employ  6  men ;  Crawford  &  Co. 
employ  4  men. 

About  a  mile  north  from  the  city  is  the  quarry  from 
which  Mas  taken  the  stone  for  the  construction  of  the  State 
House.  Several  grand  edifices  in  our  southern  cities  have 
been  constructed  of  granite  taken  from  this  quarry.  Means 
have  recently  been  taken  to  enlarge  the  business.  * 

The  nianufactui-e  of  cotton  goods  is  carried  on  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Fisherville,  in  the  northern  part  of  Concord.  The 
woollen  manufactory  is  in  the  West  Parish. 

Distill  (i-uished  Men.  —  Rev.  Timothy  Walker  came 
with  the  first  settlers  to  Concord  —  then  Pennacook — in 
1726,  and  was  the  settled  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  until  his  death.  During  the  52  years  of  his  minis- 
try here  his  labors  were  attended  with  abundant  success. 
He  was  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  intellectual  pow- 
ers —  was  enterprising  and  active.  Wise  in  his  counsels, 
prudent  iu  his  management,  and  full  of  the  purest  patriot- 
ism, he  was  eminently  the  man  for  his  time  and  place.  He 
lived  to  behold  the  triumph  of  American  arms  ;  and  when 
the  news  of  the  final  defeat  of  the  British  at  Yorktown 
was  conveyed  to  him,  he  exclaimed,  "  It  is  enough ! 
'  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.'  " 

Hon.  Timothy  Walki^h,  son  of  the  llev.  Timothy 
Walker,  was  born  in  IT-JT,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1756, 
was  intrusted  with  various  civil  ofiices  by  his  townsmen, 
and  in  1776  was  one  of  the  committee  of  safety  for  the 
state.  During  the  war  he  commanded  a  company  of  min- 
ute men,  was  subsequently  paymaster  of  the  state  forces, 
and  served  in  a  campaign  under  General  Sullivan.     He  was 


GAZETTEKR    OF    NEW    HAMPSIIIllT:.  171 

member  of  the  convention  which  framed  our  constitution 
in  1784,  was  for  several  years  afterwards  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  and  for  a  long  period  sustained  the  office  of 
chief  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Ho  died  in 
1822. 

Benjamin  Thompson,  afterwards  known  as  Count  Rum- 
ford,  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Concord,  and  majr- 
ried  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Timothy  Walker.  In  1775  he 
went  to  England,  and  was  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  an  Eng- 
lish nobleman,  who,  pleased  with  his  fidelity  and  capacity 
for  business,  procured  for  him  a  colonel's  commission.  He 
served  in  the  British  armies  until  1784,  when,  his  philo- 
sophical inquiries  having  attracted  attention  in  foreign 
countries,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  gen- 
eral of  horse  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria.  Here 
he  distinguished  himself  in  effi^cting  discipline  and  econo- 
my among  the  troops,  and  in  his  efforts  in  the  public  ser- 
vice accomplished  much  in  behalf  of  the  poor.  On  leav- 
ing the  service,  the  duke  honored  him  Mith  the  title  of 
count.  He  afterwards  visited  England,  where  he  received 
the  honor  of  knighthood.     He  died  in  France  in  1814. 

Hon.  Isaac  Hii.l  came  to  Concord  in  1808,  and  com- 
menced life  as  a  journeyman  printer.  He  soon  became  ed- 
itor of  a  political  paper,  and  for  many  years  wielded  a  pow- 
erful influence  throughout  the  state.  He  filled  the  offices 
of  state  senator,  senator  in  Congress,  and  governor  of  New 
Hampshire.  Pie  was  an  enterprising  and  benevolent  man, 
contributing  liberally  to  the  various  benevolent  and  reli- 
gious institutions  of  his  adopted  town.     He  died  in  1850. 

Ex-Governor  Kent,  of  Maine,  who  filled  with  great 
ability  several  important  offices,  was  a  native  of  Concord. 

The  President  of  the  United  States,  Fkanklin  Piercb, 
had  been,  for  many  years  previous  to  the  time  of  his  en- 


172  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

tering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  as  chief  magistrate  of 
this  Union,  a  resident  of  Concord,  and  an  active  promoter 
of  all  its  interests. 

Population.  —  Until  some  eight  years  past,  the  increase  of 
population  was  gradu.al ;  but  since  that  time  there  has  been 
a  rapid  advance,  as  will  be  seen  by  inspecting  the  census 
returns.  In  1840  the  population  was  4987;  in  1850, 
8584 ;  in  1854,  it  is  estimated  at  10,400. 

In  March,  1853,  the  town  of  Concord  adopted  a  city 
charter.  This  was  long  and  violently  opposed,  principally 
from  a  belief  that  taxes  would  thereby  be  greatly  increased. 
Experience,  however,  has  proved  otherwise,  and  the  pru- 
dence of  the  measure  is  now  almost  universally  admitted. 
Concord  is  one  of  the  most  healthy  towns  in  the  Union. 
Probably  there  is  not  another  city  of  the  same  population 
whose  bill  of  mortality  would  present  so  favorable  an  indi- 
cation of  general  health  and  longevity.  This  is  doubtless 
owing  to  its  beautiful  location  and  the  enterprise  and  in- 
dustry of  the  people. 

Conway,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Chatham, 
east  by  Brownfield  and  Fryeburg,  Maine,  south  by  Eaton 
and  Madison,  and  Avest  by  Madison  and  Albany.  Area, 
23,040  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  72  miles,  north. 
Swift  Iliver,  a  large  and  rapid  stream,  Pequawkett  River, 
and  a  stream  flowing  from  Walker's  Pond,  discharge  them- 
selves into  Saco  River  in  this  town.  Saco  River  here  is 
about  12  rods  Avide,  and  on  an  average  2  feet  deep ;  its 
current  is  rapid  and  broken  by  foils.  This  river  has  been 
known  to  rise  27,  and  in  a  few  instances  30,  feet  in  24 
hours.  The  largest  collections  of  water  are  Walker's  Pond 
and  Pequawkett  Pond ;  the  latter  is  about  360  rods  in  cir- 
cumference.    Pine,  Rattlesnake,  and  Green  Hills  are  the 


^ 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  173 

most  considerable  elevations  in  this  town,  situated  on  the 
north-eastern  side  of  the  river.  On  the  southern  side  of 
Pine  Hill  is  a  detached  block  of  granite,  or  bowlder,  which 
is  probably  the  largest  in  the  state  —  an  immense  fragment, 
but  which  doubtless  owes  its  present  position  to  some  vio- 
lent action  of  Nature.  A  spring  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  on  the  bank  of  Cold  Brook,  discharges  water  strongly 
impregnated  with  sulphur,  which  has  proved  beneficial  in 
some  cases  to  invalids. 

Considerable  quantities  of  magnesia  and  fuller's  earth 
have  been  found  in  various  localities.  The  soil  is  interval, 
plain,  and  upland.  The  interval  along  the  river  varies 
from  50  to  220  rods  in  width,  and  was  originally  covered 
with  white  pine  and  rock  maple.  The  plain  land,  when 
well  cultivated,  produces  abundant  crops  of  corn  and  rye. 
The  upland  is  rocky  and  uneven,  and  to  cultivate  it  with 
success  requires  long  and  patient  labor. 

There  are  in  this  town  5  hotels,  10  stores,  1  lathe  man- 
ufactory, and  1  paper  mill.  The  Congregational  church 
was  established  here  in  1778.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Porter, 
D.  D.,  was  settled  in  October  of  the  same  year.  The  Bap- 
tist church  was  formed  in  1796.  Rev.  Richard  R.  Smith 
was  ordained  in  the  same  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Roswell  Means  in  1799.  There  is  also  a  society  of  Free- 
will Baptists. 

This  town  was  settled,  in  1764,  '65,  and  '66,  by  James 
and  Benjamin  Osgood,  John  Dolloff,  Ebenezer  Burbank, 
and  others.  On  the  1st  of  October,  1765,  Daniel  Foster 
obtained  a  grant  of  this  township  on  condition  that  each 
grantee  should  pay  a  rent  of  one  ear  of  Indian  corn  annu- 
ally, for  ten  years,  if  demanded. 

Population,  1769.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
458.  Amount  of  inventory,  $423,045.  Value  of  lands, 
15* 


174  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

hnproved  and  unimproved,  $171,597.     Number  of  sheep, 
1017.     Do.  neat  stock,  1660.     Do.  horses,  267. 

Cornish,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Plain- 
field,  east  by  Croydon,  south  by  Claremont,  and  west  by 
Windsor,  Vermont.  Area,  23,160  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  50  miles,  north-west;  from  Newport,  13.  This 
town  is  watered  in  its  western  limits  by  the  Connecticut 
River,  over  which  a  bridge  connects  with  Windsor.  The 
soil  is  generally  fertile,  and  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the 
grains,  fruits,  and  vegetables  generally  raised  throughout 
the  state.  The  town  is  hilly,  with  the  exception  of  that 
part  which  lies  on  the  river.  On  Bryant's  Brook  specimens 
of  silver  ore  have  been  found ;  also,  on  the  bottom  and 
along  the  margin  of  the  brook,  spruce-yellow  paint  is 
obtained  in  considerable  quantities.  Good  limestone  occurs 
in  various  locations.  Crystals  of  red  oxide  of  titanium 
have  been  discovered  in  this  town.  These  are  valued 
highly  by  jewellers,  who  sell  them  under  the  name  of 
Venus  hair  stone. 

There  arc  in  this  town  two  hotels  and  two  stores.  The 
people  are  generally  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Sever- 
al ferms  in  this  town  are  under  excellent  cultivation.  This 
town  was  granted,  June  21,  1763,  to  Rev.  Samuel  McClin- 
tock  and  69  others.  It  Avas  settled  in  1765  by  emigrants 
chiefly  from  Sutton,  Massachusetts.  When  the  first  settlers 
arrived  they  found  a  camp,  known  for  many  years  as  the 
"Mast  Camp,"  from  its  having  been  erected  for  a  company 
engaged  in  procuring  masts  for  the  royal  navy.  Captain 
Daniel  Putnam,  a  citizen  highly  esteemed,  and  for  many 
years  clerk  of  the  town,  cume  here  in  1764.  Cornish  was 
one  of  the  sixteen  towns  that  sec^cdod  from  New  Hampshire 
and  joined  Vermont  in  1778.      During  lliis  year  a  conven- 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  175 

tion  of  delegates  from  seveval  towns  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  met  in  this  town. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  here  in  1768. 
Rev.  James  Welman  was  the  first  minister.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1800  by  Rev.  Joseph  Rowell.  A  Baptist  church 
was  formed  here  in  1791,  and  Rev.  Ariel  Kendrick  was 
ordained  in  1801.  An  Episcopalian  society  was  formed  in 
1793.  This  society  was  incorporated,  in  1795,  under  the 
name  of  "Trinity  Church." 

Popvilation,  1606.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
386.  Inventory,  ^584,644.  Value  of  lands,  improved 
and  unimproved,  $274,124.  Amount  of  school  fund, 
$580.  Number  of  sheep,  6605.  Do.  neat  stock,  1822. 
Do.  horses,  368. 

Croydon,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Gran- 
tham, east  by  Springfield  and  Sunapee,  south  by  Newport, 
and  west  by  Cornish.  Area,  26,000  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  44  miles,  north-west.  This  town  is  very  hilly 
and  uneven,  and  its  surface  is  in  many  places  covered  with 
huge  masses  of  granite.  Croydon  Mountain  stretches 
across  the  western  part  of  the  town,  and  is  the  highest 
elevation  in  Sullivan  county.  This  town  is  well  watered. 
It  contains  several  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  are  Long 
Pond,  Rocky  Bound,  Governor's  and  Spectacle  Ponds. 
The  north  branch  of  Sugar  River  crosses  it  in  a  south-west- 
erly direction,  dividing  the  town  into  two  nearly  equal 
parts.  On  this  stream  and  its  tributaries  are  some  excellent 
mill  seats.  The  soil,  excepting  the  alluvial  bordering  upon 
Sugar  River,  has  generally  been  considered  stubborn  and 
unproductive  ;  it,  however,  produces  excellent  grass,  pota- 
toes, and  wheat.  This  town  enjoys  the  reputation  of 
furnishing  the  very  best  qualities  of  butter  and  cheese. 


176  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Croydon  was  granted  by  charter  to  Samuel  Chase, 
Ephrahn  Sherman,  and  63  others,  May  31,  1763.  It  was 
first  settled,  in  1T66,  by  emigrants  from  Massachusetts. 
When  the  revolutionary  war  broke  out,  the  inhabitants  of  this 
remote  and  sterile  township  were  not  idle  and  unconcerned 
spectators.  No  less  than  55  of  its  citizens  served  in  the 
war,  several  of  whom  laid  down  their  lives  in  defence  of 
their  country. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  here  September 
9,  1778.  In  June,  1788,  Rev.  Jacob  Haven  was  settled 
as  pastor,  who  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office 
until  1834.     He  died  March  17,  1845,  aged  82. 

Population,  861.  Number  of  legal  voters,  215.  Valu- 
ation, $264,520.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  unim- 
proved, $153,672.  Acres  of  improved  land,  13,400. 
Bushels  of  potatoes,  14,285.  Pounds  of  wool  grown, 
15,735.  Do.  of  butter  made,  50,970.  Do.  cheese,  1072. 
Do.  maple  sugar,  17,120.  Capital  invested  in  manufactur- 
ing, $17,700.  Number  of  sheep,  3833.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1297.     Do.  horses,  188. 

Dalton,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lancaster, 
east  by  Whitefield,  south  by  Whitefield  and  Littleton, 
and  west  by  Lunenburg,  Vermont.  Area,  16,455  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  125  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster, 
8.  The  Fifteen  Mile  Falls  in  Connecticut  River  com- 
mence in  this  town,  and  flow  tumultuously  along  its 
north-western  border.  This  town  is  also  watered  by  John's 
River  and  several  large  brooks.  The  western  and  southern 
parts  are  very  uneven  and  hilly.  The  land  originally  was 
covered  with  a  deep,  heavy  growth  of  maple,  beech,  birch, 
and  ash.  Along  the  borders  of  John's  River  the  white  pine 
is  abundant.    The  soil  on  the  highlands  is  deep  and  fertile, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  177 

and  in  many  places  of  easy  cultivation.  Blake's  Pond  lies 
at  the  south-east  part  of  the  town  ;  it  was  named  for  a 
famous  hunter,  Moses  Blake,  who,  with  Walter  Bloss,  and 
their  families,  were  the  first  settlers,  and  for  many  years 
were  the  only  inhabitants. 

There  are  two  churches,  —  one  Congregational  and  one 
Methodist,  three  hotels,  two  stores,  and  two  saw  mills, — 
one  employing  20  men.  This  town  Avas  incorporated  No- 
vember 4,  1784,  and  received  its  name  from  Hon.  Tristam 
Dal  ton,  a  grantee. 

Population,  750.  Number  of  legal  voters,  150.  Valu- 
ation, 8161,094.  Value  of  lands,  $91,877.  Number  of 
sheep,  889.     Do.  neat  stock,  804.     Do.  hcr-ses,  141. 

Danbury,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Grafton 
and  Alexandria,  east  by  Alexandria  and  Hill,  south  by  Hill 
and  Wilmot,  and  west  by  Wilmot  and  Grafton.  Area, 
19,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30  miles,  north- 
west ;  from  Plymouth  16,  south-west.  The  shape  of  this 
town  is  that  of  a  diamond.  It  is  generally  hilly  and  un- 
even. Along  Smith's  River,  the  only  stream  of  note,  is 
some  very  good  interval.  The  soil  is  generally  cold  and 
sterile.  The  Northern  Railroad  passes  through  this  town 
near  its  south-western  border.  There  is  in  this  town  one 
Congregational  society  and  one  Methodist.  There  are  three 
stores  and  one  hotel.  There  is  also  a  high  school ;  average 
attendance,  60. 

This  town  was  first  settled  in  November,  1771.  It  M'as 
incorporated  in  1795.  The  first  settlements  were  very 
gradual,  and  made  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town. 

Population,  944.  Number  of  legal  voters,  251.  Valu- 
ation, $217,031.  Number  of  sheep,  2311.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1052.     Do.  horses,  146.  » 


178  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Danville,  Eockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Poplin,  east  by  Kingston,  south  by  Hempstead,  and  west 
by  Sandown.  Distance  from  Concord,  33  miles,  south-east ; 
from  Exeter,  10.  Area,  7000  acres.  The  surface  is  uneven ; 
the  soil  generally  light,  but  in  some  parts  excellent. 
Squamscot  River  passes  through  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
town,  and  is  the  only  stream  of  importance.  Long  Pond 
lies  in  the  east  part,  and  Cub  Pond  in  the  west.  This 
town  was  formerly  a  part  of  Kingston,  and  was  incorporated, 
February  22,  1760,  under  the  name  of  Roake,  in  honor  of 
a  British  admii-al  of  that  name.  The  first  settlements  were 
made  in  1735,  by  Jonathan  Sanborn,  Jacob  Hook,  and  others. 
Rev.  John  Page  was  ordained  over  the  Congregational 
church  here  in  1763.  He  died  of  small  pox  January  29, 
1782,  aged  43  ;  since  that  time  no  minister  of  that  denom- 
ination has  been  settled.  There  is  at  present  one  Freewill 
Baptist  society  and  one  Methodist.  This  town  received  its 
present  name  in  1836.  In  1775  it  contained  300  more 
inhabitants  than  at  any  time  since. 

Population,  614.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  155. 
Valuation,  $196,587.  Value  of  lands,  improved  and  un- 
improved, $89,976.  Number  of  sheep,  304.  Do.  neat 
stock,  454.     Do.  horses,  82. 

Deerfield,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Northwood,  east  by  Nottingham,  south  by  Raymond  and 
Candia,  and  west  by  Epsom.  Area,  25,81*5  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  18  miles,  south-east ;  from  Portsmouth, 
30,  north-west.  This  town  contains  several  ponds,  which 
abound  with  fish.  Pleasant  Pond,  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  lies  partly  in  this  town  and  partly  in  Northwood. 
Its  waters  are  very  clear.  Moulton's  Pond,  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town,  although  small,  is  noted  from  the  feet 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  179 

that  it  lias  no  visible  inlet ;  its  waters  are  supposed  to  be 
supplied  by  a  subterranean  passive.  It  has  several  times 
been  sounded;  but  no  bottom  has  yet  been  discovered. 
The  outlets  of  this  pond  run  in  opposite  directions  —  one 
in  a  northerly  direction,  discharging  into  Suncook  Pond,  in 
Epsom ;  the  other  flowing  into  a  branch  of  Limprey  River, 
near  the  centre  of  the  town.  The  surface  of  the  town  is 
uneven,  diversified  by  large  swells  and  intervening  dales. 
The  soil  is  durable  se^^  fertile.  The  growth  of  wood  con- 
sists mainly  of  rock  maple,  white  maple,  beech,  birch,  rod 
oak,  and  hemlock. 

This  town  took  its  name  from  the  fact  that  it  abounded 
with  numerous  herds  of  deer,  many  of  which,  in  its  early 
settlement,  were  slain ;  and  while  the  petition  for  the  char- 
ter of  the  town  was  pending  before  the  General  Court,  a 
large  fat  buck  was  killed,  and  presented  to  Governor  Went- 
worth  by  a  Mr.  Batchelder,  and  thus  secured  the  act  under 
the  name  of  Decrfield.  This  town  was  first  settled  in 
1756  and  1758  by  John  Robertson,  Benjamin  Batchelder, 
and  others.  The  Pawtuckaway  Mountains,  Ipng  on  the 
line  between  this  town  and  Nottingham,  the  summits 
of  which  are  in  the  latter,  consist  of  three  distinct  eleva- 
tions, rising  somewhat  abruptly  from  the  shores  of  Round 
Pond,  in  Nottingham,  and  are  known  as  the  Upper,  Mid- 
dle, and  Lower  Mountains.  They  are  based  on  mica  slate, 
which  is  rapidly  decomposing,  owing  no  doubt  to  the  pres- 
ence of  large  quantities  of  iron  pyrites.  The  farms  on 
which  the  Messrs.  Meloons  reside  in  Deerfield  are  noted 
for  the  richness  and  strength  of  their  soils,  which  consist 
of  the  natural  deposits  of  the  wash  from  the  mountains. 
The  highest  of  these  mountains  is  893  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea.  Saddleback  INIountain,  situated  on  the  line 
between  Deerfield  and  Northwood,  consists  of  mica  slate. 


180  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

and  is  elevated  1072  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  From 
the  summit  of  this  mountain,  the  ocean,  which  is  30  miles 
distant,  may  be  distinctly  seen  with  the  naked  eye  in  a 
clear  day.  It  is  a  place  of  resort  in  the  summer  and  fall 
montlis.  Nottingham  Movintain,  bearing  the  name  of  ^le 
town  from  which  Deerfield  was  taken,  lies  on  the  line  be- 
tween this  town  and  Epsom.  On  the  southerly  side  of  this 
mountain  is  a  natural  formation,  foi*  many  years  designated 
as  "Indian  Camp."  It  is  a  cave  about  20  feet  wide,  10 
feet  high,  and  14  deep.  In  the  back  part  is  still  another 
cavity,  called  the  "  Indian  Oven,"  and  is  a  refuge  for  wild 
animals.  The  sides  of  the  camp  are  irregular,  and  the  top 
is  covered  by  a  canopy  of  granite,  projecting  about  14  feet, 
and  affording  a  shelter  from  the  sun  and  rain.  On  the  east 
side  is  a  natural  flight  of  stone  steps,  by  which  persons 
may  easily  ascend  to  the  top  of  the  ridge.  There  is  a  bed 
of  iron  ore  in  the  south-easterly  part  of  the  town,  which 
was  formerly  worked,  but  was  found  inadequate  for  practi- 
cal purposes.  Iron  ore,  terra  sienna,  and  particles  of 
magnetic  iron  pyrites,  disseminated  in  the  rocks,  are  found 
in  various  localities,  often  rendering  the  management  of 
the  compass  very  difficult  and  perplexing.  Near  the  shore 
of  Pleasant  Pond  have  been  found  fine  specimens  of  black 
lead.  In  the  town  of  Deerfield,  for  nearly  twenty  years 
past,  there  have  been  heard  certain  reports,  or  explopdons, 
which  appear  to  be  subterraneous,  and  apparently  of  a  vol- 
canic or  gaseous  nature.  Sometimes  the  sound  resembles 
the  blasting  of  rocks  or  the  report  of  distant  cannon ;  at 
other  times  it  is  more  like  the  rumbling  of  a  carriage 
driven  furiously  over  frozen  ground,  accompanied  with  a 
tremulous  motion  and  shake  of  the  ground,  and  passing 
with  the  dip  of  the  stratified  rock,  which  is  fiRom  a  south- 
westerly to  a  north-easterly  direction.     In  the  fall  of  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPbHIRE.  181 

year  these  sounds  arc  more  frequent ;  and  sometimes  fifteen 
or  twenty  reports  may  be  heard  during  a  single  day,  and  as 
many  in  the  night.  An  investigation  of  the  causes  of  these 
strange  phenomena  is  now  being  made  by  the  Hon.  E. 
Merriam,  an  eminent  geologist  from  New  York. 

The  names  of  eighteen  persons  from  this  town  who  died 
in  the  revolutionary  army  are  preserved.  There  are  three 
religious  societies  in  this  to\^^l.  The  Congregational  was 
formed  in  1772,  and  Rev.  Timothy  Upham  ordained.  A 
Freewill  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  1799.  There  is 
also  a  Calvinist  Baptist  society  in  this  town.  All  these  are 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  sum  of  $1200  is  appro- 
pricited  annually  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  in 
addition  to  the  proportion  of  the  literary  fund.  There  are 
two  hotels,  ten  stores,  eight  grain  and  sawmills.  There 
are  four  shoe  manufactories,  with  a  capital  of  about  $12,000, 
in  which  nearly  300  persons  are  employed.  There  is  also  a 
convenient  Town  Hall,  in  which  a  high  school  is  kept. 

Population,  2022.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  550.  Do. 
legal  voters,  537.  Valuation,  $555,251.  Value  of  lands, 
improved  and  unimproved,  $359,531.  Number  of  sheep, 
1345.    Do.  neat  stock,  1974.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  368. 

Deering,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Hillsborough  and  Henniker,  east  by  Weare,  south  by 
Francestown  and  Bennington,  and  west  by  Antrim.  Area, 
20,057  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  23  miles,  south- 
west ;  from  Amherst,  22,  north-west.  This  town  is  diver- 
sified with  hill  and  valley;  is  well  watered  by  numerous 
streams  —  too  small,  however,  for  manufacturing  purposes  to 
any  extent.  The  soil  is  strong  and  productive.  Dudley's 
Pond,  near  the  north  line,  is  140  rods  long  and  50  wide. 
Pecker's  Pond,  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  is  180  rods 
16 


183  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT    IS. 

long  and  65  wide.  In  the  north  part  of  the  town  is  a 
mine  of  plumbago,  and  supposed  to  be  very  valuable. 

There  are  one  clothing  mill,  one  store,  one  grist  and  two 
sawmills,  two  hotels,  and  three  wheelwright  shops.  There  is 
one  Congregational  society,  established  in  December,  1789, 
by  Rev.  Solomon  Moore  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Barns.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Gillett,  C.  Page,  and  D.  Long  preached  here,  but 
were  never  settled.  A  second  Congregational  church  was 
formed  in  1801,  and  Rev.  William  Sleigh  ordained  the 
same  year ;  he  was  dismissed  in  1807.  There  is  also  a 
Baptist  and  a  Methodist  society  here. 

This  town  was  incorporated  January  17,  1774.  The 
name  was  given  by  the  Hon.  John  Wentworth,  in  honor 
of  his  wife,  whose  name  before  marriage  was  Deering. 
The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  1765,  by 
Alexander  Robinson.  He  was  soon  followed  by  William 
McKean,  William  Forsaith,  Thomas  Aiken,  William  Aiken, 
Francis  Grimes,  and  others. 

Population,  890.  Houses,  179.  Families,  194.  Farms, 
132.  Value  of  lands,  $268,480.  Stock  in  trade,  |2000. 
Inventory,  |396,510.  Number  of  polls,  208.  Do.  sheep, 
1089.     Do.  neat  stock,  1499.     Do.  horses,  183. 

Derry,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Au- 
burn and  Chester,  east  by  Sandown  and  Hampltead,  south 
by  Salem  and  Windham,  and  west  by  Londonderry.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  25  miles,  south-east;  from  Exeter, 
18,  south-west.  This  is  an  excellent  township  for  grazing. 
The  soil  is  productive,  and  well  cultivated.  This  town 
contains  some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  region.  The 
people  are  remarkable  for  their  industry,  general  wealth, 
and  longevity.  The  village  in  this  town  is  pleasantly 
located,  and  presents  a  thriving,  healthy  appearance.     Bea- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  188" 

ver  Pond  in  this  town  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  one 
mile  in  length  by  160  rods  in  Avidth,  nearly  surrounded  by 
gently  rising  hills,  mostly  covered  with  forest.  There  are 
in  this  town  two  academies  —  Pinkerton,  with  a  fund  of 
$16,000;  and  Adams  Female  Academy,  with  a  fund  of 
$•4000.  There  arc  three  religious  societies  in  town,  and  as 
many  meeting  houses  —  one  Presbyterian,  one  Methodist, 
and  one  Congregational.  The  Manchester  and  Lawrence 
Railroad  passes  through  this  town.  It  was  incorporated 
July  2,  1827,  and  originally  formed  a  part  of  Londonderry. 
Population,  1850.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
450.  Amount  of  inventory,  $608,861.  Value  of  lands, 
1458,453.  Number  of  sheep,  431.  Do.  neat  stock,  1300v 
Do.  horses,  278. 

DixviLLE,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Clarksville 
and  grant  to  Gilmanton  Academy,  east  by  Dartmouth 
College  grant  and  Wentworth  Location,  south  by  Millsfield 
and  nngranted  lands,  and  west  by  Columbia,  Colebrook, 
and  Stewartstown.  Area,  31,023  acres.  146  miles  north 
from  Concord,  and  40  north-east  from  Lancaster.  This  is 
a  somewhat  rugged  and  rocky  region,  but  nevertheless  con- 
tains some  very  good  land.  It  is  watered  by  numerous 
streams.  Much  of  it  yet  remains  uncultivated  and  covered 
with  a  dense  forest.  In  this  town  is  the  Dixville  Notch, 
a  remarkable  gap  in  the  mountains,  wild  and  interesting  to 
the  beholder ;  and  when  this  region  becomes  more  widely 
known,  it  will  constitute  one  of  the  most  agreeable  resorts 
for  lovers  of  picturesque  scenery.  It  is  the  pass  through 
which  teams  go  from  Erroll  to  Portland.  The  direction 
of  the  pass  is  north-east  and  south-west,  and  is  walled  on 
both  sides  by  towering  ledges  and  calumns  of  mica  slate, 
which  stand  nearly  vertical,  and  rise  to  the  height  of  600 


184  MEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

to  800  feet  fiom  the  road.  The  rock  in  this  region  resem 
bles  volcanic  more  than  any  other  found  in  the  state.  On 
the  north  side  of  this  road,  some  40  rods  distant,  is  the 
Flume,  caused  by  the  decay  of  a  large  trap  dike.  The 
chasm  is  20  feet  deep  and  10  wide,  and  is  the  channel  of  a 
stream  of  water. 

This  town  was  granted  in  1805  to  Colonel  Timothy  Dix, 
of  Boscawen,  who  was  the  first  settler.  In  1820  there 
were  only  two  inhabitants.     Population,  8. 

DoKCHESTER,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Went- 
worth,  east  by  Groton,  south  by  Canaan,  and  west  by 
Lyme.  Area,  23,040  acres.  50  miles  north-west  from 
Concord,  and  23  south  from  Haverhill.  The  principal 
streams  are  the  south  branch  of  Baker's  River,  a  tributary  of 
the  Mascomy,  and  Rocky  Branch.  There  are  several 
ponds  lying  wholly  or  partially  in  this  town.  Church, 
Island,  and  McCutcher  Ponds  form  the  head  waters  of 
the  Rocky  Branch ;  Little,  Norris,  and  Smart's  Ponds  form 
the  head  Avaters  of  the  Mascomy  River.  Smart's  Moun- 
tain, lying  partly  in  this  town,  is  a  considerable  elevation. 
From  its  summit  a  most  delightful  and  extensive  view  is 
presented  of  the  surrounding  country,  including  the  green 
hills  of  Vermont  and  the  course  of  the  Connecticut  River  for 
several  miles.  The  soil  in  some  parts  is  very  fertile,  espe- 
cially the  intervals  on  the  branch  of  Baker's  River.  The 
highlands  are  very  uneven,  and  generally  rocky.  The 
manufacture  of  lumber  is  a  considerable  branch  of  business 
in  this  town.  There  are  1 1  sawmills,  the  aggregate  capi- 
tal of  which  is  f  28,000,  wliich  give  employment  to  40 
or  50  hands.  There  are  connected  with  several  of  these 
machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  clapboards,  shingles, 
copperas  casks,  &c.     There  is  quite  an  establishment  for 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  185 

the  manufacture  of  charcoal,  with  a  capital  of  $4000,  giv- 
ing employment  to  nine  hands.  On  a  hill  near  the  centre 
of  the  town  is  a  granite  ledge,  which  seems  to  have  been 
forced  asunder,  and  the  fissure,  which  is  about  16  inches 
in  width,  is  filled  with  basalt,  in  which  there  are  impressions 
similar  to  the  tracks  of  cattle,  about  five  inches  in  width  and 
two  and  a  half  feet  apart.  There  are  in  this  town  two 
meeting  houses  —  one  belonging  to  the  Congregational 
society,  the  other  to  the  Baptist.  The  Baptist  society 
was  formed  in  1819.  The  first  two  charters  of  this  town 
were  forfeited  by  a  failure  to  fulfil  fie  conditions  reqiured. 
The  third  was  granted  May  1,  1772,  to  72  persons,  about 
which  time  the  actual  settlement  began.  The  first  settlers 
were  Benjamin  Rice  and  Stephen  Murch,  from  Hanover. 

Population,  711.  Number  of  polls,  175.  Inventory, 
$165,199.  Value  of  lands,  $102,579.  Number  of  sheep, 
2742.     Do.  neat  stock,  674.     Do.  horses,  100. 

Dover,  shire  town  of  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Somersworth,  east  by  the  Salmon  Falls  River,  —  which 
separates  it  from  Elliot,  Maine,  —  south  by  Madbury,  and 
west  by  Rochester.  40  miles  east  from  Concord,  and  66 
north  from  Boston.  This  is  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal towns  in  the  state.  It  is  situated  at  the  head  of  navi- 
gation in  the  Cocheco  River,  about  12  miles  from  the  ocean, 
in  the  midst  of  a  rich  and  fertile  country.  Passing  through 
the  town  in  any  direction,  the  traveller  finds  no  rugged 
mountains  nor  sterile  plains ;  but,  occasionally  ascending 
gradual  swells  of  land,  he  beholds  spread  out  before  him 
a  vast  and  beautiful  picture  of  village,  forest,  stream,  ver- 
dant dale,  and  cultivated  field.  In  the  south  part  of  the 
town  is  a  neck  of  land,  about  three  miles  in  length  and  half 
a  mile  wide,  between  the  Piscataqua  River  on  one  side,  and 
16* 


186  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    I§. 

Bellamy,  or  Back,  River  on  the  other.  The  travelled  road, 
from  which  the  land  gradually  descends  in  both  directions, 
commands  an  extensive  and  delightful  prospect  of  bays, 
islands,  and  distant  mountains.  On  this  neck  of  land  was 
commenced  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  in  1623,  by  a 
company  in  England  styled  the  "Company  of  Laconia." 
The  purpose  of  the  settlement  was  to  estabHsh  a  fishery 
around  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua ;  to  accomplish  which, 
Edward  and  William  Hilton,  fishmongers  of  London,  were 
sent  hither.  These  two  men  commenced  their  operations 
on  the  Neck,  called  by  the  Indians  Winnichahannat ;  but 
they  named  it  at  first  Northam,  afterwards  Dover.  For 
many  years  this  spot  included  the  principal  part  of  the 
population  of  the  tovrn.  Here  was  erected  the  first  meet- 
ing house,  surrounded  with  entrenchments  and  flankarts, 
the  remains  of  which  are  still  pointed  out.  But  in  pro- 
cess of  time  the  current  of  pojjulation  began  to  change 
and  settle  around  the  Falls,  four  miles  north  of  the  Neck, 
where  is  now  the  beautiful  and  prosperous  village  of  Dover. 
The  descent  of  the  falls  in  this  place  is  very  rapid,  being 
32  feet  within  a  short  distance.  As  this  water  power  began 
to  be  developed  a  new  vigor  was  added  to  business,  and 
wealth  rapidly  followed.  During  the  earlier  periods  of  the 
settlement  this  town  Avas  much  frequented  by  the  Indians, 
and  often  suffered  greatly  from  their  sudden  and  repeated 
attacks.  In  1675,  ]\Iajor  Waldron,  by  a  stratagem,  the 
justice  and  prudence  of  which  have  been  questioned,  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  about  200  Indians  in  Dover,  who  had 
at  times  betrayed  signs  of  hostility.  Seven  or  eight  who 
had  been  guilty  of  some  misdemeanor  were  immediately 
hung,  and  the  rest  were  sold  into  slavery.  Exasperated  by 
this  act,  as  the  Indians  termed  it,  of  treachery,  they  swore 
against  him  unmitigated  revenge.     In  1689,  after  a  lapse 


GAZETTEEll    OF    NEAV    HAMPSIIIKE.  187 

of  13  years,  they  determined  to  execute  their  project. 
Previous'  to  the  fatal  night,  June  27,  hints  of  impending 
danger  were  thrown  out  by  the  squaws,  but  were  not 
heeded.  The  friendly  Indians  were  suffered  to  sleep  in  the 
garrisons  with  the  people  as  usual.  In  the  quiet  of  night 
the  doors  of  the  garrisons  were  opened,  and  at  a  given 
signal  the  Indians  arose  from  their  secret  places  and  rushed 
upon  the  unsuspecting  and  defenceless  inhabitants.  Major 
Waldron,  although  80  years  of  age,  made  a  gallant  defence, 
but  was  at  length  overpowered  by  the  superior  numbers  of 
his  assailants,  who  literally  cut  him  to  pieces.  In  this 
onset  23  persons  were  killed  and  29  made  prisoners.  In 
1691  a  young  man  in  the  woods  near  the  settlement  was 
fired  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians.  A  body  of  citizens  went 
in  pursuit,  and  killed  or  wounded  nearly  tlie  whole  party. 
In  169G  they  again  made  an  attack  upon  the  people  as  they 
were  returning  from  church :  three  were  killed,  and  several 
■wounded  and  taken  prisoners.  In  1704  one  Mark  Giles 
was  killed,  and  the*  people  waylaid  on  their  way  from 
meeting.  In  1706  William  Pearl  and  Nathaniel  Tib- 
betts  were  killed,  and  in  1710  Jacob  Garland  met  the 
same  fiite.  In  the  spring  of  1711  and  1712  this  town 
was  attacked  by  Indians,  who  killed  a  INIr.  Tuttle.  In 
August,  1723,  the  Indians  again  made  their  appearance, 
and  surprised  the  house  of  Joseph  Ham,  whom  they  killed, 
and  carried  off  three  of  his  children. 

The  first  settled  minister  in  Dover  was  Eev.  William 
Leveridge,  a  Congregationalist  preacher,  who  came  here 
October  10,  1633.  His  support  being  inadequate,  he  re- 
mained but  two  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
George  Burdet,  who  was  settled  in  1637.  The  third  was 
Hanserd  Knolles,  under  whom  was  organized,  in  1639,  the 
"  First  Church,"  being  the  oldest  but  one  in  New  Hamp- 


188  XEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

shire.  He  was  followed  in  16-40  by  Thomas  Larkham, 
■who  remained  in  charge  only  a  few  months.  Daniel  Maud, 
fifth  minister,  was  settled  in  1643;  died  in  1655.  John 
Reyner  settled  in  1655  ;  died  in  1669.  He  was  succeeded 
in  the  same  year  by  his  son  John,  who  died  December 
21,  1676.  John  Pike  was  the  eighth  minister,  and  was 
settled  in  1681 ;  died  in  1709.  Nicholas  Sever  was 
ordained  at  Dover  in  1711;  resigned  in  1715.  Jonathan 
Gushing  was  settled  in  1717;  died  in  1769.  During  the 
last  two  years  of  his  ministry  he  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Jere- 
my Belknap,  D.  D.,  the  historian  of  New  Hampshire,  who 
succeeded  him  in  1769.  Dr.  Belknap  was  pastor  until  1786, 
when  he  was  followed  by  Robert  Gray,  whose  connection 
as  pastor  of  this  church  ceased  in  1805.  Rev.  Galeb  H. 
Shearman  was  prdained  at  Dover  May  6,  1807  ;  dismissed 
May  7,  1812.  Rev.  J.  W.  Glary  Avas  ordained  May  7, 
1812;  dismissed  August  6,  1828.  Hubbard  Winslow 
was  ordained  December  4,  1828  ;  dismissed  in  November, 
1831.  David  Root  was  ordained  i^^  1833;  dismissed  in 
1839.  J.  S.  Young  was  ordained  November  20,  1839  ; 
dismissed  September  4,  1843.  Homer  Barrows  was  in- 
stalled July  9,  1845;  dismissed  July  6,  1852.  The 
present  pastor,  Benjamin  F.  Parsons,  was  installed  January 
12,  1853.  An  Episcopal  church  was  established  here  at 
an  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  town.  The  Methodist 
society  was  incorporated  in  1819.  There  is  also  one  Uni- 
tarian society,  one  Calvinist  Baptist,  two  Freewill  Baptist, 
one  Universalist,  one  Gatholic,  and  one  Quaker,  or  Friends. 

A  high  school  has  recently  been  established  on  the  sys- 
tem of  classification.  The  entire  cost  of  buildings,  fur- 
niture, apparatus,  &c.,  is  f  15,067. 

The  Gocheco  Manufacturing  Gompany  is  one  of  the  old- 
est and  most  extensive  corporations  of  the  kind  in  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  189 

county.  It  was  incorporated  in  1813,  and  amended  in 
1821.  It  commenced  operations  in  1822.  Its  capital  is 
$1,300,000.  The  business  of  this  company  is  divided 
into  two  departments  —  one,  manufacture  of  cotton  goods  ; 
two,  printing  calicoes.  In  the  manufacturing  departmerit 
there  are  four  mills,  containing  47,312  spindles  and  1200 
looms.  Amount  of  printing  cloths  manufactured  per  an- 
num, 10,000,000  yards  —  all  printed  into  calico  in  the 
print  works.  Number  of  bales  of  cotton  consumed  annu- 
ally, 4300.  Do.  hands  employed  —  males,  400  ;  females, 
800  ;  total,  1200.  Moses  Paul,  agent ;  George  Mathew- 
son,  superintendent  of  print  works. 

There  is  an  extensive  oil  carpet  manufactory  owned  by 
Abraham  Folsom.  It  has  been  in  successful  operation 
about- five  years.  About  1000  yards  of  carpeting  are  man- 
ufactured daily.  In  this  work  abovit  40  men  are  em- 
ployed. These  beautiful  and  substantial  fabrics  are  sent 
to  various  parts  of  the  country  and  the  world. 

On  Bellamy  River,  about  a  mile  south-east  from  the  vil- 
lage, is  the  Bellamy  Machine  Shop,  where  railroad  cars, 
engine  lathes,  &c.,  are  made.  20  men  are  employed.  Au- 
gustus Pickerson,  agent. 

F.  A.  &  J.  Sawyers's  Flannel  Manufactory  consumes 
60,000  pounds  of  wool  per  annum,  produces  200,000  yards 
of  flannel  per  annum,  and  employs  20  hands. 

About  one  fourth  of  a  mile  below  Messrs.  Sawyers, 
Messrs.  Hale  &  INIoses  have  erected  a  factory  for  making 
flannel  goods.  It  is  estimated  to  do  about  the  same  amount 
of  business  as  is  done  by  Mqpsrs.  Sawyers. 

Davis  &  Snow  have  a  steammill,  where  they  manufac- 
ture sashes,  doors,  &c.,  and  employ  20  hands.    * 

There  are,  besides,  several  small  shops,  in  which  various 
kinds  of  mechanical  and   manufacturing   labor   are   per- 


190  NEW    IIAMrSHIKE    AS    IT    15. 

formed.  There  arc  tTv-o  hotels  and  thirty  stores  in  this 
town.  The  village  of  Dover  is  well  laid  out  and  well  built, 
the  houses  generally  being  two  stories,  neat,  and  some 
elegant.  The  houses  of  worship,  the  Court  House,  and 
other  public  buildings  are  handsome,  and  the  factories 
massive  and  imposing  in  their  structure.  Dover  is  easily 
approached  by  the  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad,  by  the 
Cocheco  Railroad,  and  by  the  Great  Falls  and  Conway 
Railroad. 

Population,  8186.  Number  of  polls,  1660.  Valuation, 
$3,267,800.  Value  of  lands,  $1,527,500.  Number  of 
sheep,  413.  Do.  neat  stock,  1557.  Do.  horses  and 
mules,  412. 

Dublin,*  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Nelson 
and  Hancock,  east  by  Peterborough,  south  by  Jaffrey,  and 
west  by  Marlborough  and  Roxbury.  Area,  26,560  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keeue, 
10,  south-east.  Dublin  is  situated  on  the  height  of 
land  between  Merrimack  and  Connecticut  Rivers.  Its 
streams  are  small.  There  is  a  pond  near  the  middle  of  the 
town,  called  Centre  Pond,  about  one  mile  in  length,  and 
the  same  in  width.  A  large  portion  of  the  Grand  Monad- 
nock  lies  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town,  and  near  the 
centre  is  Breed's  Mountain.  Monadnock  was  formerly 
covered  with  small  trees  and  shrubbery  ;  but  numerous 
fires  have  laid  bare  its  surface,  wliich  presents  an  uneven 
mass  of  ragged  rocks.  The  soil  is  hard  and  rocky  — 
much  bett«fr  adapted  to  grazing  than  tillage.  A  handsome 
Congregational  meeting  house,  erected  in  1818,  stands  on 
such  an  elevation  that  the  rain  dropping    from  the  west 

•    •  Harrisville  lies  partly  in  this  town.    For  description,  see  Nelson. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  191 

roof  runs  into  the  Connecticut  River,  and  that  from  the 
east  roof  into  the  Merrimack.  There  is  a  Baptist  meeting 
house  in  the  north-Avest  part  of  the  town.  The  common 
schools  in  this  town  are  well  conducted.  Several  years 
since  a  bequest  of  $8000  was  made  by  Rev.  Edward 
Sprague  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools.  He  also 
left  the  town  $5000,  the  interest  of  which  is  to  be  applied 
annually  for  the  support  of  a  Congregational  minister. 

This  town,  originally  called  Monadnock  Number  Three, 
was  granted,  November  3, 1749,  to  Matthew  Thurston  and 
others.  It  was  incorporated  March  29,  1771.  The  first 
settlements  were  made  in  1762  by  John  Alexander,  Henry 
Strongman,  and  William  Scott,  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
the  capital  of  which  country  this  town  received  its  name. 

The  Congregational  chiu-ch  was  formed  June  10,  1772, 
and  Rev.  Joseph  Farrer  ordained  at  the  same  time.  The 
Baptist  church  was  organized  November  5,  1785.  Rev. 
Elijah  Willard  was  ordained  June  5,  1793.  There  is  also 
a  Methodist  and  Unitarian  society  in  this  town. 

Population,  1088.  Number  of  polls,  262.  Inventory, 
$454,492.  Value  of  lands,  $244,947.  Number  of  sheep, 
2191.     Do.  neat  stock,  1349.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  206. 

DuMMER,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Millsfield 
and  Erroll,  east  by  Cambridge,  south  by  Milan,  and  west 
by  Stark  and  ungranted  lands.  Area,  23,040  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  140  miles,  north  ;  from  Lancaster,  30, 
north-east.  The  principal  rivers  are  the  Androscoggin  and 
the  Little  Ammonoosuc.  In  the  latter  are  the  Dummer,  or 
Pontook,  Falls.  This  town  was  granted,  March  8,  1773,  to 
Mark  H.  Wcntworth  and  others.  It  was  left  unoccupied, 
however,  for  many  years.  Its  progress  has  been  very 
slow,  owing  perhaps,  in  some  degree,  to  the  rocky  and  un- 
even surface  of  tlic  land  and  the  coldness  of  the  soil. 


192  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

Population,  171.  Number  of  legal  voters,  45.  Com- 
mon schools,  8.  Inventory,  ^38,832.  Value  of  lands, 
$24,027.  Number  of  sheep,  206.  Do.  neat  stock,  138. 
Do.  horses,  5. 

DuNBARToN,  INIerrirc^lc  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Hopkinton  and  Bow,  east  by  Bow  and  Hooksett,  south  by 
GoffstoAvn,  and  Mcst  by  Weare.  Area,  21,000  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  9  miles,  south.  The  situation  of 
this  town  is  someAvhat  elevated,  though  there  are  but  few 
hills,  and  no  mountains.  Owing  to  its  elevation,  the  air  is 
pure  and  the  water  good.  The  soil  is  excellent,  especially 
for  the  growth  of  corn,  wheat,  and  fruit.  Some  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  apples  are  produced  here.  The  farm- 
ers are  generally  industrious  and  successful  husbandmen. 
The  inhabitants  are  principally  descendants  of  Scotch-Irish, 
so  called  from  the  fact  that  their  ancestors  emigrated  from 
Scotland  to  Ireland.  Arsenic,  in  the  state  of  arsenical 
pyrites,  is  found  in  this  town.  Dunbarton  was  granted  in 
1751  to  Archibald  Stark,  Caleb  Page,  and  others,  by  the 
Masonian  proprietors.  It  was  first  called  Stark's  Town, 
ia  honor  of  the  principal  proprietor.  Its  present  name  is 
derived  from  Dunbarton  in  Scotland.  The  first  settle- 
ment was  made,  about  1749,  by  Joseph  Putney,  James 
Rogers,  William  Putney,  and  Obadiah  Foster.  Captain 
Caleb  Page  was  one  of  the  first  settlers.  Archibald  Stark 
resided  in  Manchester.  He  Avas  a  man  of  considerable  in- 
fluence, and  possessed  a  large  landed  property.  James 
Rogers  was  from  Ireland,  and  was  father  to  Major  Robert 
Rogers.  He  was  shot  in  the  woods,  being  mistaken  for  a 
bear.  The  Congregational  church  was  formed  here  about 
1789.  Rev.  Walter  Harris  was  ordained  August  26, 
1789. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

Population,  915.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
230.  Do.  common  schools,  10.  Inventory,  |387,984. 
Value  of  lands,  .$250,349.  Number  of  sheep,  1 145.  Do. 
neat  stock,  1323.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  170. 

Durham,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north  by  Madbury, 
east  by  Little  and  Great  Bays,  south  by  Newmarket,  and 
west  by  Lee.  Area,  14,970  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 32  miles,  south-east;  from  Portsmouth,  11,  north- 
west. This  town  is  situated  on  Oyster  River,  at  the  head 
of  tide  water.  This  river,  so  called  from  the  abundance 
of  oysters  found  at  its  mouth,  takes  its  rise  from  Wheel- 
Avright's  Pond,  in  Lee,  and  after  winding  nearly  its  whole 
course  through  Durham,  and  furnishing  in  its  progress 
several  excellent  mill  seats,  falls  into  the  Piscataqua.  The 
soil  of  this  town  is  generally  hard  and  strong.  On  both 
sides  of  Oyster  River  is  a  deep,  argillaceous  loam,  favorable 
to  the  growth  of  grasses,  of  which  very  heavy  crops  are 
cut  eveiy  year.  The  farmers  devote  much  of  their  time 
to  the  production  of  hay  for  the  Boston  market.  More 
than  1000  tens  are  annually  exported.  A  chain  of  granite 
ledge  extends  through  the  town,  which  seems  to  be  of 
primitive  formation.  There  was  formerly  a  large  erratio 
bowlder  of  sienitic  granite  in  the  south-west  part  of  the 
town,  so  carefully  poised  upon  two  other  pieces  of  the 
same  materiiil  that  it  was  visibly  moved  by  the  wind.  This 
town  was  originally  a  part  of  Dover,  and  included  in  Hil- 
ton's patent,  but  soon  after  its  settlement  was  formed  into 
a  distinct  parish,  by  the  name  of  Oyster  River.  This  was 
a  famous  rendezvous  of  the  Indians.  The  early  inhabitants 
were  greatly  exposed  to  their  assaults  and  depredations. 
In  September,  1675,  they  made  an  attack  on  this  place, 
burned  two  houses,  killed  several  men,  and  carried  away 
17 


194  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS.  , 

two  captives.  Two  days  after  they  made  another  attack, 
destroyed  several  houses,  and  killed  two  persons.  In  1694, 
when  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  had  marched  to 
the  westward,  the  Indians,  who  were  lurking  in  the  woods 
about  Oyster  River,  having  carefully  ascertained  the  number 
of  men  in  the  garrison,  rushed  upon  them  as  they  were  going 
to  their  morning  devotions,  and,  having  cut  off  their  retreat 
to  the  house,  put  them  all  to  death  except  one,  who  fortu- 
nately escaped.  They  then  assailed  the  house,  in  which 
were  only  two  boys,  besides  the  women  and  children.  The 
boys  kept  them  off  for  some  time,  and  Avounded  several  of 
them.  At  length  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  house ;  but 
even  then  the  boys  would  not  surrender  until  the  Indians 
had  promised  to  spare  their  lives.  They,  however,  treach- 
erously murdered  three  or  four  children,  one  of  whom  they 
pierced  with  a  sharp  stake  in  the  presence  of  its  mother. 
The  women  and  children  were  carried  captive,  but  one  of 
the  boys  made  his  escape  the  following  day.  The  next 
spring  the  Indians  narrowly  watched  the  frontiers,  to  deter- 
mine the  safest  and  most  vulnerable  points  of  attack.  The 
settlement  at  Oyster  River  was  selected  for  destruction. 
Here  were  twelve  garrisoned  houses,  fully  sufficient  for  the 
reception  of  the  inhabitants ;  but,  not  apprehending  any 
danger,  many  of  the  families  remained  in  their  unfortified 
houses,  and  those  Avho  Avcrc  in  the  garrison  were  by  no 
means  prepared  for  a  siege,  as  they  Avcre  nearly  destitute 
of  powder.  One  John  Dean,  whose  house  stood  near  the 
Falls,  happening  to  rise  very  early  for  a  journey,  was  shot 
as  he  came  out  of  his  door.  The  attack  was  now  commenced 
with  vigor  on  all  points  where  the  enemy  were  ready.  Of 
the  twelve  garrisoned  houses  five  were  destroyed  —  namely, 
Adams's,  Drew's,  Edgerly's,  Mcader's,  and  Beard's.  The 
Indians  entered  Adams's  house  without  resistance,  where 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  195 

they  killed  fourteen  persons,  whose  graves  arc  still  to  be 
seen.  Drew  surrendered  his  garrison  on  promise  of  safety ; 
but  he  was  put  to  death.  Thomas  Edgerly,  having  hid 
himself  in  his  cellar,  preserved  his  house,  though  it  was 
twice  set  on  fire.  The  house  of  John  Buss,  the  minister, 
together  with  his  valuable  library,  was  set  on  fire  and  con- 
sumed. In  this  onset  the  Indians  killed  and  captured 
between  90  and  100  persons,  and  destroyed  20  houses. 
In  1703  they  made  another  incursion,  and  killed  one  man. 
In  1704  several  persons  M'ere  murdered  by  them.  In 
170o  they  assailed  the  house  of  John  Drew,  where  they 
killed  eight  persons,  and  wounded  several  others.  In  1707 
they  captured  two  persons,  and  murdered  two  others  as 
they  were  on  a  journey  to  Dover.  In  September,  same  year, 
a  party  of  MohaM'ks  attacked  a  company  of  men  who  were 
at  work  in  the  woods  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
Chesley.  At  the  first  fire  the  enemy  killed  seven,  and 
wounded  another.  Chesley,  with  his  few  surviving  com- 
rades, kept  up  a  brisk  fire,  and  for  some  time  kept  them  at 
bay ;  but  they  at  length  fell,  overpowered  by  numbers.  In 
1724  the  Indians  made  another  attack  upon  this  town,  and 
killed  several  persons  in  ambush. 

The  first  preacher  in  this  town  was  the  Rev.  John  Buss, 
who  died  in  1736,  aged  108.  There  is  a  Baptist  society 
in  this  town,  and  one  academy.  jNIajor  General  John  Sulli- 
van, of  the  revolutionary  army,  was  a  resident  of  this  town, 
and  died  here  January  23,  1795.  He  was  a  native  of  Ber- 
wick, Maine,  and  was  a  distinguished  commander  during 
the  war ;  was  president  of  the  state  three  years,  and  after- 
wards district  judge  of  New  Hampshire.  Hon.  Ebenezer 
Thompson  was  a  native  of  this  town.  He  held  several 
offices  during  the  war,  and  was  an  efficient  legislator. 
Colonel  Winborn  Adams,  of  the  revolutionary  army,  was  a 


196  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

citizen  of  Durham.  Population^  1500.  Number  of  legal 
Yoters  in  1854,  350.  Do.  common  schools,  10.  Inventory, 
$485,953.  Value  of  lands,  $335,782.  Number  of  sheep, 
417.     Do.  neat  stock,  1000.     Do.  horses,  182. 

East  Kingston,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Brentwood  and  Exeter,  east  by  Kensington,  south  bv 
Southampton,  and  west  by  Kingston.  Area,  2120  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  42  miles,  south-east ;  from  Ports- 
mouth, 20,  south-west.  The  surface  is  moderately  uneven. 
The  soil  is  of  an  excellent  quahty,  and  well  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  grains  and  grasses.  Powwow  River  enters  the" 
south-west  part  of  this  town,  having  its  sources  from  ponds 
in  Kingston. 

There  are  in  tliis  town  one  meeting  house  belonging  to 
the  Methodist  denomination,  two  stores,  one  carriage  manu- 
factory, one  shoe  manufactory,  and  two  tanneries.  The  sum 
of  $2000  was  recently  bequeathed  to  the  town  by  the  late 
Jeremiah  Morrill,  Esq.,  the  interest  of  which  is  to  be 
applied  for  the  benefit  of  common  schools.  This  town 
was  incorporated  November  17,  1738.  Among  the  first 
settlers  were  William  and  Abraham  Smith,  who  settled 
near  the  centre  of  the  town.  Rev.  Peter  Coffin  was  settled 
here  in  1739,  and  was  dismissed  in  1772,  since  which  time 
the  Congregational  society  has  had  no  regular  preaching. 

Population,  532.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  150. 
Do.  common  schools,  4.  Inventory,  $274,751.  Value  of 
lands,  $186,137.  Number  of  sheep,  236.  Do.  neat 
stock,  484.     Do.  horses,  72. 

Eaton,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Conway, 
east  by  Brownfield,  Maine,  south  by  Freedom,  and  west  by 
Tamworth.     Area,  33,637  acres.     Distance  from  Concord, 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  197 

71  miles,  north-east;  from  Ossipee,  22,  north.  The  soil 
of  the  uplands,  which  are  quite  uneven,  is  good.  The 
plains  are  a  sandy  loam,  and  were  formerly  covered  with 
an  excellent  growth  of  pine.  There  are  no  streams  of 
importance  in  this  town.  Six  INIile  Pond  is  about  three 
miles  in  length  and  fi-om  one  half  to  a  mile  in  width. 
There  are  several  other  smaller  ponds  in  this  town.  Eaton 
was  granted,  November  6,  17(56,  to  Clement  March  and  65 
others.  A  Baptist  church  was  formed  here  in  1800. 
There  are  two  Freewill  Baptist  societies  in  this  town. 
There  is  a  woollen  factory,  and  several  small  mills  for 
various  purposes.  Iron  ore  of  good  quality  is  found  here. 
There  is  also  a  vein  of  sulphuret  of  lead,  of  considerable 
value.     Zinc  in  large  quantities  is  to  be  found  here. 

Population,  1751.  Number  of  polls,  308.  Inventory, 
$276,227.  Value  of  lands,  $1-49,581.  Number  of  sheep, 
1178.     Do.  neat  stock,  1659.     Do.  horses,  189. 

Effingham,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Free- 
dom, east  by  Porter,  Maine,  south  by  Ossipee,  and  west  by 
Ossipee.  Area,  about  30,000  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 60  miles,  north-east ;  from  Ossipee,  5,  north.  There 
are  several  mountains  of  considerable  elevation  in  this 
town.  The  Ossipee  River  is  the  only  stream  of  note. 
Near  this  river  is  a  pond,  about  400  rods  long,  and  270 
wide.  Province  Pond  lies  between  this  town  and  Wake- 
field. 

Effingham  was  settled  but  a  few  years  before  the  revo- 
lution. It  was  first  called  Leavitt's  Town.  It  was  incor- 
porated August  18,  1778.  Rev.  Gideon  Burt  was  the 
first  settled  minister,  who  entered  upon  his  tluties  as  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  1803,  and  was  dismissed 
in  1805,  since  which  time  the  church  has  been  vacant. 
17* 


198  NEW    HAMPSHIKE    AS   IT   IS. 

At  present  there  are  two  Freewill  Baptist  societies  in  the 
town.  A  Baptist  society  was  formed  here  in  1808.  The 
Effingham  Academy  was  incorporated  in  1819,  and  is  a 
respectable  institution. 

Population  in  1TT5,  85 ;  in  1850,  1252.  Number 
of  polls,  244.  Inventory,  $255,161.  Value  of  lands, 
$109,415.  Number  of  sheep,  407.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1227.     Do.  horses,   207 

Ellsworth,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  "Wood- 
stock, east  by  Thornton,  south  by  Rumney,  and  west  by 
Warren.  Area,  16,606  acres.  52  miles  north  from  Con- 
cord, and  12  north  from  Plymouth.  A  mountainous  terri- 
tory. The  most  prominent  elevation  is  Carr's  Mountain, 
situated  in  the  north  part,  and  extending  to  the  centre  of 
the  town.  A  small  stream  issues  from  "West  Branch  Pond, 
in  the  south-east  part  of  the  town,  and  runs  into  the 
Pemigewasset,  in  Camptou.  The  soil,  though  in  some  parts 
sterile  and  rugged,  produces  wheat,  rye,  corn,  oats,  pota- 
toes, «S:c.  This  town  was  granted  in  1769,  under  the  name 
of  Trecothick,  to  Barlow  Trecothick.  Large  quantities  of 
maple  sugar  are  made  here  annually.  There  is  one  Free- 
will Baptist  church  and  society  in  this  town.  There  are 
also  three  common  schools,  five  sawmills,  and  one  gristmill. 

Population,  320.  Number  of  legal  voters,  75.  Valua- 
tion, $44,344.  Value  of  lands,  $18,952.  Number  of 
sheep,  455.     Do.  neat  stock,  292.     Do.  horses,  39. 

Enfield,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Canaan, 
east  by  Grafton,  south  by  Grantham,  and  west  by  Lebanon. 
Area,  24,060  acres.  42  miles  north-west  from  Concord, 
with  which  it  is  connected  by  the  Northern  Railroad.  The 
surface  of  this  town  is  diversified  with  hills  and  valleys. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  199 

and  watered  by  a  variety  of  ponds  and  streams  well  stored 
with  fish.  Masconiy  Pond,  Avhich  has  received  from  travel- 
lers the  name  of  Pleasant  Pond,  is  indeed  a  beautiful  sheet 
of  water,  about  five  miles  in  length,  and  on  an  average 
half  a  mile  in  width.  Its  eastern  banks  are  covered  with 
trees,  which,  with  the  ascending  hill,  gradually  rise  one 
above  the  other  for  some  distance.  Along  the  eastern 
shore  the  Northern  liailroad  extends  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. Mascomy  River,  which  takes  its  rise  in  Dorchester, 
running  through  Canaan,  discharges  into  this  pond.  This 
pond  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  some  former  period  much 
higher  than  at  present,  and  the  plain  and  villages  south 
are  supposed  to  have  been  the  bed  of  it.  This  is  evident 
from  the  ancient  shore  still  remaining  around  the  pond 
and  about  30  feet  above  high  water.  Logs  have  been 
found  12  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  plain  once  flowed. 
Its  foil  appears  to  have  been  sudden,  caused  by  an  altera- 
tion of  its  outlet.  On  the  eastern  shore,  about  half  a  mile 
from  the  pond,  is  a  pleasant  and  thriving  village,  known 
as  North  Enfield.  There  arc  several  stores  and  mills  here, 
and  one  extensive  tannery. 

This  pleasant  village  has  grown  up  within  a  few  years. 
The  soil  is  generally  strong,  though  requiring  considerable 
labor  to  make  it  productive.  On  the  south-Avestern  shore 
of  the  pond  is  situated  the  Shakers'  village.  This  society 
own  the  land  on  the  south-west  bank,  nearly  the  entire 
length  of  the  pond.  The  village  is  located  about  midway 
between  the  two  extremities  of  the  pond,  on  an  alluvial 
plain  of  great  fertility  and  under  a  very  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. About  20  acres  of  this  are  devoted  to  horticulture, 
from  A\hich  large  quantities  of  garden  seeds  and  all  the 
valuable  varieties  of  botanic  medicinal  herbs  and  roots  are 
produced.     The  buildings  are  neat  and  convenient,  and 


200  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

some  on  a  large  and  splendid  scale.  In  the  village  of  the 
Middle  Family  is  a  large  and  beautiful  stone  edifice,  four 
stories  in  height,  surmounted  by  a  cupola  in  which  is  a 
bell  weighing  about  800  pounds,  remarkable  for  its  sono- 
rousness and  sweetness  of  tone.  An  immense  and  costly 
barn  for  cows  has  recently  been  erected.  The  location  and 
•arrangement  are  admirable.  It  is  built  across  a  gentle 
ravine,  opening  from  bank  to  bank,  and  is  so  constructed 
that  teams  laden  with  hay,  grain,  or  straw  may  enter  at 
either  gable,  precipitate  the  hay  into  the  bay  below,  pass 
along,  and  make  their  egress  at  the  other  end.  Such  a 
location  has  enabled  the  owners  to  extend  a  cellar  through 
its  entire  length  for  the  reception  of  the  manures,  both 
solid  and  liquid,  which  are  kept  from  filtration  or  otherwise 
escaping  downwards  by  a  plank  floor  laid  upon  a  stratum 
of  clay  wrought  as  a  bed  of  mortar.  The  descent  of  the 
ground  upon  the  back  part  of  the  barn  affords  a  passage  to 
and  from  the  cellar  both  convenient  and  easy  for  carrying 
pond  mud  and  manure.  The  scafiblds  above  furnish 
space  to  deposit  the  littei',  which  is  let  down  through  a 
trap  door  in  the  rear  of  the  cows. 

The  manufactures  of  the  Shakers  consist  mainly  of 
wooden  ware,  such  as  pails,  tubs,  dry  measures,  brooms, 
&c.  They  also  manufacture  extensively  woollen  and 
flannel  shirts  and  drawers,  cassimeres,  flannels,  feeting, 
&c.  They  own  about  2000  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  their 
village,  and  considerable  in  adjoining  towns.  They  are 
divided  into  thi-ee  distinct  families.  The  middle,  or,  as 
they  term  it,  the  first  order,  contains  about  120  members. 
The  second  order,  or  family,  resides  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  first,  and  contains  about  80  members.  The  north 
family,  or  novitiate,  is  situated  at  the  extreme  north  of  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  201 

vijlage,  and  contains  usually  about  60  members.  Each  of 
the  families  has  one  large  and  commodious  building, 
which  is  called  the  office,  where  all  the  commercial  affairs 
are  transacted,  and  where  all  visitors  are  entertained.  It  is 
desirable  that  all  visitors  should  first  call  at  one  of  these 
offices.  Trustees  of  the  first  order,  C.  M.  Dyer  and  H.  C. 
Baker  ;  of  the  second,  Jason  Kidder  and  William  Wilson ; , 
of  the  north  family,  A.  Bronson.  The  society  in  Enfield 
have  but  little  water  power ;  but  by  means  of  artificial 
channels  they  have  about  10  mills  of  different  kinds. 
They  usually  keep  about  100  cows.  They  take  much 
pains  in  the  improvement  of  stock.  They  have  recently 
imported  two  small  flocks  of  French  merino  sheep  at  an 
expense  of  .^200  to  $500  apiece.  The  religious  peculiar- 
ities *  of  this  society  are  similar  to  those  of  the  society  at 
Canterbury,  which  have  already  been  noticed. 

South  of  the  Shaker  Village,  in  the  direction  of  Spring- 
field, are  three  flourishing  villages,  known  as  "  North 
End,"  "Enfield  Centre,"  and  "Fish  Market."  The 
two  latter  are  well  supplied  with  water  power,  and  con- 
tain several  stores,  mills,  a  woollen  factory,  two  meeting 
houses,  mechanics'  shops,  &c.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town,  situated  at  the  foot  of  East  Pond,  —  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water,  abounding  with  pickerel  and  trout,  —  is 
Mill  Village,  a  pleasant  and  thriving  place,  containing  a  , 
handsomely-built  meeting  house,  stores,  and  shops  of 
vai'ious  kinds. 

This  town  was  formerly  called  Relham,  and  was  incorpo- 
rated and  granted  to  Jedediah  Dana  and  others  July  4, 
1761.  First  settlers,  Nathaniel  Bicknell,  Jonathan  Paddle- 
ford,  and  Elisha  Bingham,     Elias,  son  of  the  person  last 

*  See  article  upon  Religion. 


202  ^"EW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

named,  was  the  first  male  child  boru  in  this  town.  For  th^ir 
first  minister  the  Congregational  society  had  Eev.  Edward 
Evans,  who  was  settled  in  December,  1799,  and  dismissed  in 
1805.  A  Freewill  Baptist  church  was  established  here  in 
1816.     There  is  also  a  Methodist  society. 

Population,  1742.     Number  of  polls',  376.     Inventory, 

►  $506,9-l-i.    'Value  of  lands,  ^289,473.     Number  of  sheep, 

8439.     Do.  neat  stock,  1371.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  236. 

Epping,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Not- 
tingham and.  Lee,  east  by  Newmarket  and  Exeter,  south 
by  Brentwood  and  Poplin,  and  west  by  Raymond.  Area, 
12,760  acres.  The  soil  in  general  is  very  good,  and  Avell 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  various  productions  of  this 
climate.  Lamprey  River,  at  the  west,  receives  the  waters 
of  the  Patuckaway,  and  runs  through  the  entire  length  of 
the  town.  Another  river  runs  through  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  and  is  called  North  River.  These  streams  af- 
ford a  few  convenient  mill  seats,  which  are  occupied  by 
three  small  woollen  manufactories,  in  each  of  which  from 
eight  to  ten  persons  are  constantly  employed.  There  are 
six  stores,  two  hotels,  and  three  meeting  houses  —  one  be- 
longing to  the  Congregational  society,  one  to  the  Methodist, 
and  one  to  the  Freewill  Baptist.  There  is  also  a  small  so- 
ciety of  Friends,  or  Quakers. 

The  late  Hon.  William  Plumer,  governor  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  one  of  her  most  distinguished  sons,  was  a 
resident  of  this  town.  Hon.  John  Chandler,  formerly  rep- 
resentative and  senator  in  the  INIassachusetts  legislature, 
member  of  Congress,  and  brigadier  general  in  the  army  of 
tho  United  States  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  a  native  of  Ep- 
ping. The  Congregational  society  was  first  established 
here  in  1747,  when  Rev.  Robert  Cutler  was  ordained.     As 


GAZETTEER    OV    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  203 

early  as  1T69  a  (Quaker  society  existed  here.  The  Baptist 
society  was  formed  here  about  1776.  A  society  of  Metho- 
dists was  established  about  1800. 

Population,  16G3.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
354.  Valuation,  $499,941.  Value  of  lands,  $302,803. 
Value  of  shares  in  banks  and  other  corporations,  $25,150. 
Number  of  sheep,  954.  Do.  neat  stock,  972.  Do.  horses 
and  mules,  181. 

Epsom,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Pitts- 
field,  east  by  Northwood  and  Deerfield,  south  by  Aliens- 
town,  and  west  by  Pembroke  and  Chichester.  Area, 
19,200  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  12  miles,  east. 
The  surface  of  this  town  is  generally  uneven.  The  prin- 
cipal eminences  are  called  McCoy,  Fort,  Nat's,  and  Not- 
tingham Mountains.  The  soil  is  generally  good,  and  well 
adapted  to  grazing  or  the  raising  of  grain.  Great  and  Lit- 
tle Suncook  are  the  only  rivers  of  any  size.  There  are 
three  ponds  —  Chestnut,  Round,  and  Odiorne's.  The  min- 
eralogical  features  of  Epsom  are  of  some  importance. 
Brown  oxide  and  sulphuret  of  iron  are  found  in  various 
localities.  Terra  sienna,  a  valuable  material  for  paint,  is 
also  found  here.  Arsenical  pyrites,  argentiferous  galena, 
and  hematite  associated  with  quartz  crystals,  occur  in  sev- 
eral localities. 

Epsom  was  granted.  May  18,  1727,  to  Theodore  At- 
kinson and  others.  It  received  its  name  from  Epsom  in 
England.  Rev.  John  Tucker  was  the  first  settled  minister, 
and  was  ordained  in  1761.  Like  other  frontier  towns,  Ep- 
som was  exposed,  during  the  early  period  of  its  settlement, 
to  excursions  of  the  Indians  ;  no  serious  injuries,  however, 
were  sustained.  In  1747,  August  21,  Mrs.  McCoy  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  Canada,  from  whence  she  re- 


204  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

turned  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Depredations  were  after- 
wards committed  upon  the  cattle,  the  inhabitants  having  pre- 
viously fled  to  the  garrisons  in  I^ottingham. 

Major  Andrew  McClary,  a  native  of  this  town,  a  brave 
and  meritorious  officer,  fell,  gallantly  resisting  the  enemies 
of  his  country,  at  Bunker's  (or  Breed's)  Hill,  June  17, 1775. 
Immediately  on  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  massacre  at 
Lexington,  he  left  his  plough  in  the  field  and  hastened  to 
the  conflict. 

Population,  1365.  Number  of  polls,  281.  Inventory, 
i$349,589.  Value  of  lands,  $169,267.  Number  of  sheep, 
1122.     Do.  neat  stock,  1350.     Do.  horses,  187. 

Erroll,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Wentworth's 
Location,  east  by  Umbagog  Lake,  —  a  portion  of  which  is 
within  its  limits,  —  south  by  Cambridge  and  Dummer,  and 
west  by  Millsfield.  Area,  about  35,000  acres,  2500  of 
which  are  covered  Avith  water.  Several  considerable 
streams  unite  here  Avith  the  Androscoggin,  which  passes 
thi'ough  the  north-east  part  of  the  toAvn.  Upon  this  stream, 
in  Erroll,  have  been  expended  quite  recently  more  than 
,f  100,000  in  erecting  dams,  &c.,  for  the  purpose  of  hold- 
ing back  the  Avatcr,  so  as  to  enable  the  company  engaged  in 
the  enterprise  to  drive  logs  from  the  upper  lakes  to  market 
through  the  Avhole  season.  There  are  numerous  ponds  and 
small  streams  Avhich  abound  Avith  trout.  The  soil  in  some 
parts  is  very  good.  A  large  portion  of  the  toAvn  is  still 
covered  Avith  a  thick,  heavy  groAvth  of  maple,  beech,  birch, 
and  pine. 

Population,  138.  Number  of  legal  voters,  41.  Com- 
mon schools,  3.  Valuation,  $44,752.  Value  of  lands, 
$22,808.  Number  of  sheep,  279.  Do.  neat  stock,  178. 
Do.  horses.  25. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    IIAMPSHIRE.  205 

Exeter,  the  shire  town  of  Rockingham  county,  is 
bounded  north  by  Newmarket  and  Strathara,  east  by 
Stratham,  Hampton,  and  Hampton  Falls,  south  by  Ken- 
sington and  East  Kingston,  and  west  by  Brentwood  and 
Epping.  The  compact  part  of  the  town  lies  about  the 
falls  —  which  separate  the  tide  ^-om  the  fresh  water  —  of  a 
branch  of  the  Piscataqua,  called  by  the  Indians  Squamscot, 
and  now  known  by  the  name  of  Exeter  River.  On  this 
river  are  several  valuable  mill  privileges,  many  of  which 
are  now  occupied. 

The  town  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
The  soil  is  generally  good,  though  including  every  variety, 
from  the  best  to  the  poorest  quality.  The  people  are 
largely  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  great 
improvement  has  been  made.  Exeter  owes  much  of  her 
prosperity  to  the  large  number  of  her  enterprising  and  in- 
telligent mechanics.  The  Exeter  Manufacturing  Company 
was  incorporated  in  18^8.  Its  capital  stock  amounts  to 
$162,500.  Dimensions  of  building,  175  feet  long  by  44 
wide,  and  6  stories  high.  It  contains  7488  spindles  and 
175  looms.  Manufacture  number  25  cotton  cloth,  36 
inches  wide.  Annual  consumption  of  cotton,  450,000 
pounds.  Number  of  yards  of  cloth  produced  per  annum, 
1,400,000.  Do.  operatives  employed  —  males,  45;  fe- 
males, 160  ;  total,  205.  During  the  past  year  the  build- 
ing was  thoroughly  repaired.  It  is  now  lighted  with  gas, 
and  heated  by  steam.  John  Low,  Jr.,  agent  and  treas- 
urer. 

Orin  Head,  carriage  manufacturer,  has  from  $30,000  to 
.$40,000  capital  invested.  In  this  establishment  over  200 
carriages  of  all  kinds  are  annually  manufactured.  A  sad- 
dlery and  harness  shop  is  also  connected  with  this  concern. 
In  both  departments  about  60  hands  are  employed. 
18 


206  ^-E^v  Hampshire  as  it  is. 

There  arc,  besides,  a  papermill,  and  several  other  shops 
of  less  extent  where  various  articles  are  manufactured. 

Phillips  Academy,  a  celebrated  institution,  was  founded 
in  1T81  by  the  liberal  donations  of  John  Phillips,  D.  D., 
who,  at  his  decease  in  1795,  left  a  large  portion  of  his 
estate  for  the  benefit  of  t^^is  institution.  It  is  under  the 
control  of  a  board  of  seven  trustees,  only  three  of  whom 
can  be  resident  in  Exeter.  A  considerable  portion  of  the 
fund  is  appropriated  towards  the  support  of  the  poorer  class 
of  students. 

Exeter  has,  during  all  periods  of  its  history,  contained 
among  its  citizens  eminent  and  useful  men.  Some  of  the 
most  distinguished  jurists,  statesmen,  and  scholars  in  the 
country  received  a  part  of  their  mental  training  in  its  lit- 
erary institution.  Hon.  Samuel  Tenney  was  well  knoAvn  in 
his  day  as  a  man  of  science  and  learning.  General  Na- 
thaniel Pcabody  was  a  member  of  the  old  Congress,  a  sen- 
ator in  1792,  and  speaker  of  the  House  in  1793.  Hon. 
Nicholas  Oilman  was  a  member  of  the  old  Congress,  a 
senator  in  1804,  president  of  the  Senate,  ^i^d  a  senator 
in  Congress  from  1805  to  his  death  in  1814.  General 
Nathaniel  Folsom  was  a  member  of  the  old  Congress,  and 
a  brave  and  valuable  officer  of  the  revolution.  Hon.  Jere- 
miah Smith,  a  native  of  Peterborough,  was  one  of  the  first 
representatives  under  the  federal  government,  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  in  1802  was  chief  justice,  and  continued  such  until 
1809,  when  he  was  elected  governor.  Hon.  John  Taylor 
Oilman  was  an  active  supporter  of  the  revolution,  and  for 
fourteen  years,  between  1794  and  1816,  was  governor  of 
the  state. 

The  settlement  of  Exeter  commenced  in  1638  under 
John  Wheelwright  and  others,  Avho  formed  themselves  into 


GAZETTEER    Or    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  207 

a  body  politic,  c•ll0^3c  their  magistrates,  and  bound  them- 
selves by  vote  to  sacred  obedience.  Their  laws  were  made 
in  popular  assemblies,  thus  manifesting  the  true  idea  of  a 
pure  democracy.     This  organization  lasted  three  years. 

In  1629  Wheelwright  had  purchased  of  the  Indians  the 
country  between  tlic  Merrimack  and  Piscataqua,  extending 
back  about  fifty  miles.  By  reason  of  his  Antinomian 
opinions  he  had  been  banished  from  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  sought  refuge  here.  In  1642  Exeter  was 
annexed  to  the  county  of  Essex,  Massachusetts  ;  and  Wheel- 
wright, who  was  still  under  sentence  of  excommunication, 
was  compelled  and  made  to  flee  from  the  society  of  re- 
ligious bigotry.  The  early  inhabitants  suffered  consider- 
ably from  the  depredations  of  the  Indians.  In  1675  one 
person  was  killed  and  another  made  prisoner,  and  other 
outrages  were  committed.  In  1695  two  men  were  killed. 
In  1697  the  town  was  undoubtedly  saved,  as  it  were,  by 
accident,  from  utter  destruction.  By  an  unintentional 
alarm,  caused  by  the  firing  of  a  gun  for  the  purpose  of 
frightening  a  few  women  and  children  who  had  gone  into 
the  fields  after  strawberries  contrary  to  the  advice  of  their 
friends,  the  people  were  brought  together  under  arms.  A 
large  party  of  Indians  had  laid  in  ambush  for  several  days, 
secretly  making  preparations  for  a  vigorous  attack,  and 
had  fixed  upon  the  following  day  to  begin  the  assault. 
Hearing  the  report  of  the  gun,  and  seeing  the  people  as- 
sembled together,  they  supposed  they  had  been  discovered, 
and  made  precipitate  retreat,  killing  one  person,  wounding 
another,  and  carrying  away  a  child.  The  Indians  gave  the 
people  no  further  trouble  until  1707,  when  another  per- 
son was  killed.  In  the  spring  of  1709  William  Moody, 
Samuel  Stevens,  and  two  sons  of  Jeremy  Oilman  were 
captured    at  Pickpocket   Mill,  in   Exeter.     In    1710    the 


208  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Indians  killed  Colonel  Wintlirop  Milton,  a  meritorious  citi- 
zen, with  two  others,  and  took  two  prisoners.  Soon  after 
this  they  killed  one  John  Magoon,  and  captured  John 
Wedgewood  and  four  children.  In  April,  1712,  a  Mr. 
Cunningham  was  killed,  and  depredations  committed  upon 
the  property  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  first  church  in  Exeter  was  probably  the  first  formed 
in  this  state.  It  was  founded  in  1638  by  Rev.  John  Wheel- 
wright, a  brother-in-law  of  the  celebrated  Anne  Hutchin- 
son, and  a  contemporary  of  Oliver  Cromwell  at  the  uni- 
versity. This  church,  after  Wheelwright's  banishment, 
was  broken  up,  and  a  new  one  formed  some  time  after,  but 
at  what  precise  period  does  not  appear.  Rev.  Samuel 
Dudley  was  ordained  in  1650.  The  Second  Congrega- 
tional Church  was  formed  in  1748,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Rogers, 
a  descendant  of  the  martyr  John  Rogers,  was  ordained. 
There  arc  at  present  two  Congregational  societies,  one 
Methodist,  one  Freewill  Baptist,  one  Calvinist  Baptist,  and 
one  Unitarian.  The  town  is  divided  into  six  school  dis- 
tricts. In  some  of  the  districts  are  substantial  and  elegant 
school  houses.  Much  has  been  done  here  towards  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  common  school  interest  in  this  town. 

The  Granite  State  Bank  has  a  capital  of  ^125,000. 
President,  Moses  Sanborn ;  cashier,  S.  H.  Stevens. 

Population,  3329.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
794.  Amount  of  inventory,  ^1,265,391.  Value  of  lands, 
1 195, 110.  Do.  factories  and  machinery,  $48,000.  Do. 
mills  and  carding  machines,  $20,400.  Do.  stock  in  trade, 
$90,356.  Amount  of  money  on  hand,  &c.,  $177,610. 
Number  of  sheep,  390.  Do.  neat  stock,  777.  Do.  horses 
and  mules,  228. 

Farmington,  Strafford  county.    Bounded  north  by  New 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  ^00 

Durham  and  Milton,  east  by  Milton  and  the  State  of  Maine, 
south  by  Eochestcr  and  Strafford,  and  west  by  Strafford  and 
New  Durham.  Area,  21,000  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 25  miles,  north-east ;  from  Dover,  18,  north-west. 
This  township  is  somewhat  broken,  and  the  soil  in  many 
places  is  rugged,  but  very  productive  when  carefully 
tilled.  There  is  but  little  interval  on  the  Cocheco  River, 
which  winds  through  the  north-east  part  of  the  town.  The 
Blue  Hill,  or  Frost  Mountain,  extending  nearly  through  the 
town  in  a  north  and  south  direction,  is  the  highest  eleva- 
tion of  land  in  the  county.  From  the  summit  of  this 
mountain  may  be  seen  in  a  clear  day  Mount  Washington, 
Monadnock,  and  hundreds  of  smaller  hills  in  the  distance ; 
while  the  ships  in  Portsmouth  Harbor  can  be  traced  in  their 
various  motions,  swayed  hither  and  thither  by  a  slight 
breeze.  The  Cocheco  River  ^s  the  only  stream  of  note. 
A  rock,  weighing  some  60  or  70  tons,  formerly  so  nicely 
poised  as  to  be  moved  easily  by  the  hand,  has  within  a  few 
years  been  moved  from  its  position  by  some  persons,  no 
doubt,  wearing  out  for  want  of  exercise. 

The  school  fund  in  this  town  is  $3000.  There  are 
seven  stores,  and  one  hotel.  The  manufacture  of  shoes  is. 
carried  on  quite  extensively.  About  560,000  pairs  of 
shoes  are  manufactured  annually.  The  amount  of  capital 
invested  is  $-475,000  ;  650  hands  are  employed.  There  is 
a  bank  in  this  town,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  Farming- 
ton  was  originally  a  part  of  Rochester,  but  was  incorporated 
as  a  distinct  town  December  1,  1798.  A  Congregational 
church  was  formed  here,  about  1818,  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  James  "Walker.  There  is  also  a  Freewill  Baptist 
society  here.     This  town  is  divided  into  16  school  districts. 

Population,   1699.     Number   of  legal   voters   in    1854, 
483.      Inventory.    651,335.      Stock   in   trade,   $21,530. 
18* 


£10  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT   IS. 

Value  of  shares  in  bank,  &c.,  $44,574.  Do.  of  lands, 
$380,920.  Number  of  sheep,  903.  Do.  neat  stock,  1512. 
Do.  horses  and  mules,  260. 

FiTzwiLLiAM,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded'  north  by 
Troy  and  Jaffrey,  east  by  Rindge,  south  by  Royalston  and 
Winchendon,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Richmond. 
Area,  22,700  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  60  miles, 
south-west;  from  Keene,  13,  south-east.  It  originally 
contained  26,900  acres ;  but  by  an  act  of  the  legislature, 
June  23,  1815,  4200  acres  were  taken  from  it,  and  now 
form  a  part  of  Troy.  Camp  and  Priest  Brooks  are  the 
principal  streams.  There  are  several  small  ponds.  The 
surface  is  hilly;  the  soil  is  hard,  but  very  good  for  graz- 
ing. There  is  a  considerable  quantity  of  meadow  land, 
which  is  very  productive.  Near  the  centre  of  the  town  is 
a  considerable  eminence,  remarkable  for  the  delightful 
prospect  it  affords.  Gap  Mountain  lies  partly  in  this  town 
and  partly  in  Troy.  On  its  summit  is  found  an  excellent 
kind  of  whetstone.  There  is  also  a  quarry  of  granite  of 
superior  quality,  which  is  extensively  wrought.  The  manu- 
facture of  wooden  ware  of  various  kinds  is  a  large  item  in 
the  industrial  pursuits  of  the  inhabita;its.  There  are  eleven 
different  establishments  in  which  this  kind  of  labor  is  per- 
formed. There  are  also  one  carriage  shop,  one  tannery,  and 
a  factory  where  enamelled  leather  is  made.  In  these 
various  departments  250  persons  are  employed.  There 
are  four  stores,  one  hotel,  twelve  common  schools,  one 
Unitarian  church,  one  Congregational,  and  one  Baptist. 

Tliis  town  was  originally  called  Monadnock  Number 
Four,  and  was  granted,  January  15,  1752,  to  Roland  Cotton 
and  41  others;  but,  the  grantees  having  suffered  forfeiture,  it 
was   regranted  to  Samson  Stoddard  and  22  others.     The 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  211 

first  settlement  was  made,  in  1760,  by  James  Read,  John 
Fassitt,  Benjamin  Bigelow,  and  others.  It  was  incorporated 
May  19,  1773,  when  it  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Earl  of 
Fitzwilliam. 

The  Congregational  church  was  formed  March  27,  1771, 
when  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Brigham  was  ordained.  In  1816 
an  elegant  church  was  erected  at^an  expense  of  $7000. 
On  the  night  of  January  17,  1817,  it  was  struck  by  light- 
ning, and  entirely  consumed.  The  Cheshire  Railroad 
passes  through  this  town. 

Population,  1482.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  $468,637.  Value  of  lands,  $283,675. 
Stock  in  trade,  $19,530.  Number  of  sheep,  297.  Do. 
neat  stock,  1093.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  232. 

Francestown,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Deering,  east  by  Weare  a'nd  New  Boston,  south  by 
Lyndeborough  and  Greenfield,  and  west  by  Greenfield 
and  Bennington.  Area,  18,760  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  27  miles,  south-west;  from  Amherst,  12,  north- 
west. The  two  south  branches  of  the  Piscataquog  rise  in 
this  town ;  the  largest  branch  from  Pleasant  Pond,  the 
other  from  Haunted  Pond.  These  two  ponds  are  consider- 
able collections  of  note ;  the  former  being  about  350  rods 
square,  and  the  latter  300  in  length  by  225  in  width.  The 
land  is  uneven,  and  in  many  parts  stony,  but  the  soil  is 
strong  and  productive.  There  are  some  small  patches  of 
interval  which  are  very  fertile.  In  the  western  part  of 
the  town  the  rock  is  mostly  coarse  granite;  in  the  eastern 
it  is  sulphuric,  easily  crumbling.  There  is  in  the  easterly 
part  of  this  town  a  valuable  quariy  of  soapstone,  which 
has  been  extensively  wrought  for  sizing  rollers  and  other 


212  -  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

purposes.  In  the  north  part  of  the  town  plumbago  occurs 
in  small  quantities. 

This  town  was  first  settled,  in  1760,  by  John  Carson,  a 
Scotchman.  It  derived  its  name  from  Frances,  the  wife  of 
Governor  Wentworth.  It  was  not  granted  to  proprietors, 
as  most  of  the  early  to"tvnships  were.  It  includes  what 
was  once  called  New  Boston  Addition  and  a  part  of  Society 
Land,  and  was  incorporated,  on  petition  of  the  inhabitants, 
June  8,  1772.  The  titles  were  derived  from  the  Masonian 
proprietors.  A  Congregational  church  was  formed  here, 
January  27,  1773,  under  the  Rev.  Samuel  Cotton.  Mr. 
James  Woodbury  was  an  active  soldier  in  the  French  war 
of  1757.  He  was  engaged  by  the  side  of  General  Wolfe 
when  he  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  memorable  siege  of 
Quebec.  He  also  belonged  to  the  company  of  rangers 
under  the  immortal  Stark. 

Population,  1114.  Number  of  houses,  241.  Do. 
families,  261.  Do.  farms,  128.  Value  of  lands,  $314,- 
620.  Stock  in  trade,  $5050.  Inventory,  |53 1,982. 
Number  of  sheep,  1953.  Do.  neat  stock,  1193.  Do. 
horses  and  mules,  240.     Do.  polls,  244. 

Franconia,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Beth- 
lehem, east  by  ungranted  lands,  south  by  Lincoln  and 
Landaff,  and  west  by  Lisbon.  Area,  32,948  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  74  miles,  north;  from  Haverhill,  28, 
north-east.  A  large  portion  of  the  town  is  mountainous. 
Its  streams  are  branches  of  the  Lower  Ammonoosuc,  and  rise 
in  the  mountainous  tracts  on  the  east.  Along  these  streams 
there  is  considerable  interval  —  meadow  land  very  fertile 
and  productive.  Near  the  "Notch"  are  two  bodies  of 
water ;  the  lower  one,  commonly  called  Ferrin*s  Pond,  is 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  213 

half  a  mile  long  and  q^uaiter  of  a  mile  Avide.  It  is  the 
source  of  one  of  the  principal  branches  of  the  Pemigewas- 
set  River,  and  is  known  as  the  "Middle  Branch."  Echo 
Lake,  about  one  mile  in  length  and  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  in  width,  lies  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Lafayette,  almost 
entirely  protected  from  violent  winds  by  the  lofty  hills 
which  surround  it  on  all  sides.  The  report  of  a  gun  fired 
upon  its  shores  may  be  heard  distinctly  several  times,  in 
perfect  imitation  of  successive  discharges  of  musketry. 
The  waters  of  this  lake  are  discharged  through  the  south 
branch  into  the  Lower  Ammonoosuc. 

The  Notch,  a  narrow  pass  between  Mount  Lafayette  and 
Profile  Mountain,  or  Mount  Jackson,  is  thought  by  many 
not  inferior  to  the  celebrated  pass  on  the  eastern  flank  of 
the  White  Mountain  range.  Those  who  visit  the  White 
Mountain  Notch  and  scenery  will  not  consider  their  visit 
complete  until  they  have  seen  Franconia  Notch.  The 
grand  and  beautiful  are  so  perfectly  blended  in  its  wild 
and  rugged  features  that  the  visitor  can  hardly  tell  with 
which  view  he  is  most  profoundly  impressed. 

The  Old  Man  of  the  Mountain  has  been  declared  to 
be  the  greatest  natural  curiosity  in  the  state.  On  a  bold 
and  nearly  perpendicular  part  of  the  rock  which  terminates 
one  of  the  projecting  cliffs  of  Mount  Jackson,  at  the  height 
of  1000  feet,  in  bold  relief  against  the  western  sky,  and 
surveying  in  calm  majesty  the  wild  and  varied  region 
stretching  towards  the  south,  is  seen  this  wonderful  profile 
of  the  human  face,  delineated  with  striking  exactness  and 
in  gigantic  proportions,  wearing  from  age  to  age  the  same 
undisturbed  expression  of  sovereign  dignity  and  hoary 
wisdom.  The  profile  is  produced  by  a  peculiar  combina- 
tion of  the  surfaces  and  angles  of  five  huge  granite  blocks. 
As  the  traveller  reaches  the  point  of  observation  from  the 


214  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

highway,  he  is  directed  to  look  in  k  northwardly  direction, 
when  he  discovers  in  the  distance  the  stern  visage  of  the 
Old  Man  of  the  Mountain, 

The  Basin  is  a  deep  excavation  in  granite,  formed  by 
the  continual  action  of  the  falling  waters  of  the  Pemige- 
wasset,  together  with  the  whirling  and  grinding  action  of 
pebbles  and  masses  of  granite  swept  into  the  cavity  by  the 
force  of  the  stream.  The  diameter  of  the  Basin  is  about 
thirty  feet,  and  its  depth  appears  to  be  in  such  proportion 
as  to  form  a  huge  bowl,  always  filled  to  the  brim  with 
clear,  cold  water. 

The  Flume  is  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the 
main  road,  on  the  right  hand  as  you  go  towards  Franconia 
Notch.  A  narrow  pathway  through  woods  leads  to  the 
spot.  There  are  in  the  passage,  numerous  small  streams, 
over  which  have  been  felled  trees,  which  is  the  only 
bridge  to  be  met  with  in  this  wild,  romantic  walk.  "  The 
Flume  is  a  deep  chasm,  having  mural  precipices  of  granite 
on  each  side  ;  while  a  mountain  torrent  rushes  through  its 
midst,  falling  over  precipitous  crags  and  loose  masses  of 
rock.  During  the  spring  freshets  and  in  early  summer  it 
is  not  practicable  to  walk  in  the  bed  of  the  Flume ;  but 
late  in  the  season  but  little  water  floWs,  and  the  bottom  of 
the  river  affords  a  good  footpath.  One  of  the  most  re- 
markable objects  in  the  Flume  is  an  immense  rounded  block 
of  granite,  which  hangs  a  few  feet  overhead,  supported 
merely  by  small  surfaces  of  contact  against  its  sides."  To 
the  traveller  passing  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  and  under- 
neath this  massive  block,  the  appearance  is,  that  it  must 
instantly  fall  upon  him.  The  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree  lies 
across  the  top  of  the  river,  and  furnishes  a  natural  bridge 
for  adventurous  persons,  though  extremely  dangerous,  es- 
pecially for  persons  unaccustomed  to  such  feats. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  215 

Franconia  owes  much  of  its  prosperity  to  the  existence 
and  working  of  a  rich  vein  of  granular  magnetic  iron  ore, 
the  locality  of  which  is  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
town  of  Lisbon.  The  ore  is  blasted  out  and  conveyed  to 
the  furnace  in  Franconia.  In  December,  1805,  a  company 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Iron  Manufactory.  The  buildings  necessary  for  the  prose- 
cution of  the  enterprise  were  erected  on  the  south  branch 
of  the  Lower  Ammonoosuc,  and  consist  of  a  large  blast  fur- 
nace, a  cupola  furnace,  a  forge,  trip  hammer  shop,  black- 
smith shop,  and  pattern  shop.  From  20  to  30  men  are 
constantly  employed.  250  tons  of  pig  iron  and  from  200 
to  300  tons  of  bar  iron  are  produced  annually.  The  ore 
is  said  to  be  the  richest  yet  discovered.  It  yields  from 
56  to  90  per  cent.  A  respectable  business  is  also  carried 
on  in  the  manufacture  of  starch  from  potatoes,  about  60 
tons  of  Avhich  are  made  annually.  There  is  a  bedstead  fac- 
tory, in  which  eight  men  are  employed,  doing  a  business 
of  about  $8000  per  annum. 

There  are  in  Franconia  three  hotels  of  large  dimensions, 
and  handsomely  finished  and  furnished,  in  which  special 
regard  is  paid  to  the  ease  and  enjoyment  of  the  numerous 
travellers  who  visit  Franconia  for  pleasure,  scientific  pur- 
poses, or  business. 

This  town  was  originally  called  Morristown,  and  was 
granted,  February  14,  1764,  to  Isaac  Searle  and  others. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1774  by  Captain  Ar- 
temas  Knight,  Samuel  Barnett,  Zebedcc  Applebee,  and 
others. 

There  is  a  Congregational  church  consisting  of  14  mem- 
bers, and  a  Freewill  Baptist  church  of  138  members. 

Population,  584.  Number  of  polls  in  1854,  139.  Do. 
legal  voters  in  do.,  132.     Inventory,  $;  174,549.     Value  of 


216  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

lands,  $95,226.  Stock  in  trade,  $15,945.  Number  of 
sheep,  567.  Do.  neat  stock,  592.  Do.  horses  and  mules, 
114. 

Freedom,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Eaton, 
east  by  Parsonfield,  Maine,  south  by  Effingham,  and  west 
by  Ossipee.  Distance  from  Concord,  60  miles,  north-east ; 
from  Ossipee,  10,  north.  This  is  an  uneven  township,  but 
contains  some  excellent  land  for  grazing  and  tillage.  Os- 
sipee Lake  lies  partly  in  this  town.  The  only  stream  of 
importance  is  Ossipee  Eiver,  which  affiards  several  excel- 
lent mill  seats.  The  inhabitants  are  generally  devoted  to 
agriculture ;  and  the  numerous  highly-cultivated  farms 
give  evidence  that  labor  is  not  unaccompanied  by  skill. 
There  are  two  carriage  factories,  doing  business  on  rather  a 
moderate  scale ;  oue  door,  sash,  and  blind  factory ;  one 
planing  and  mortising  factory ;  two  blacksmith  shops ; 
one  bedstead  shop  ;  and  four  shoe  shops.  There  is  a  re- 
ligious society  of  the  Baptist  faith ;  one  hotel,  one  high 
school,  and  ten  common  schools.  This  town  was  incor- 
porated June  16,  1831,  and  was  formerly  called  North 
Effingham. 

Population,  910.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  240. 
Inventory,  $225,930.  Value  of  lands,  $131,202.  Do. 
stock  in  trade,  $3350.  Do.  sheep,  $1916.  Do.  neat 
stock,  $17,295.  Do.  horses  and  mules,  $8087.  Do. 
polls,  $53,860. 

Franklin,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Hill 
and  Sanbornton,  east  by  Sanbornton  and  Northfield,  south 
by  Boscawen  and  Salisbury,  and  west  by  Salisbury  and 
Andovcr.  Distance  from  Concord,  19  miles,  north.  This 
pleasant  and  thriving  town  was  taken  from  the  towns  of 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  217 

Salisbur\^  Andovcr,  Sanboruton,  and  NorthfielJ,  and  was 
incorporated  December  24,  1828.  It  is  small  in  extent, 
comprising  probably  an  area  of  not  more  tlian  9000  acres. 
The  soil  is  generally  a  sandy  loam,  in  some  parts  very 
rich  ;  in  others,  especially  the  more  elevated  pine  plains,  it 
is  somewhat  sterile.  Much  attention  has  been  paid  to  ag- 
riculture here,  and  some  of  the  farms  Avill  compare  with 
the  best  in  the  state.  The  celebrated  Webster  Farm, 
through  a  portion  of  which  the  Northern  llailroad  passes, 
is  under  high  cultivation,  and  very  productive.  At  this 
place  is  a  way  station  called  the  Webster  Place.  There 
is  in  this  town  an  extensive  peat  bog,  including  about 
thirty  acres,  which  is  two  feet  deep,  with  a  hard  clay  be- 
neath it. 

The  principal  village  is  situated  near  the  confluence  of 
the  Pemigewasset  and  Winnipiseogee  Rivers,  which,  by 
their  union,  form  the  Merrimack.  Its  principal  street  is 
about  one  mile  in  length,  running  parallel  with  the  Pemi- 
gewasset and  Merrimack  Rivers,  at  a  distance  of  from 
30  to  80  rods  from  their  channels.  The  water  pov\^er 
in  this  town  is  abundant  and  valuable.  On  the  Win- 
nijiiseogee  are  several  mills  and  Victories.  The  Frank- 
lin !R'liIls  have  recently  commenced  operations.  Feeting, 
woollen  undershirts,  and  drawers  arc  extensively  manufac- 
tured here.  The  factory  building  is  a  large  and  massive 
stone  structure,  four  stories  in  height.  Connected  with 
this  are  some  tAvclve  or  fifteen  tenements  for  the  operatives. 
The  method  of  manufiicturing  such  goods  by  machinery  is 
comparatively  a  new  enterprise,  but  promises  well  for  those 
engaged  in  it.  There  is  also  a  large  paper  manufactory,  in 
which  from  25  to  30  hands  are  employed.  .  H.  Aiken's 
machine  shop,  where  are  manufactured  "  Aiken's  patent 
brad  awls "  and  tools  of  various  kinds,  is  in  this  town. 
19 


^18  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

There  is  also  an  iron  foundery  and  a  forge  shop^  where  a 
large  business  is  carried  on. 

In  the  principal  village  are  two  meeting  houses,  two 
hotels,  seven  stores,  and  one  academy. 

The  Northern  Railroad  passes  directly  in  the  rear  of  the 
principal  street ;  and  the  track  being  elevated  considerably 
above  a  level  with  the  tops  of  the  houses,  the  traveller  sees 
almost  beneath  his  feet  a  beautiful  village,  teeming  with 
life  and  activity  ;  while  still  farther  eastward  he  beholds 
the  noble  river  whose  power  gives  motion  to  the  greatest 
number  of  spindles  and  looms  of  any  stream  in  the  world. 

The  two  religious  societies  here  are  the  Congregational 
and  the  Christian  Baptist. 

The  cemetery,  situated  on  a  plain  elevated  considerably 
above  the  village,  and  some  100  rods  easterly  from  it,  is 
indeed  a  lovely  spot.  All  is  quiet  around ;  and  yet  within 
its  enclosure  the  visitor,  with  a  siugle  glance,  may  behold 
the  distant  and  gradually  rising  hills  towards  the  west,  and 
the  puffing  locomotive,  with  its  almost  endless  train ;  while 
a  short  distance  below  is  the  union  of  the  Pemigewasset 
with  the  Winnipiseogee,  and  before  him  the  busy  village ; 
the  whole  scenery,  with  its  variety  and  beauty,  presenting 
a  striking  contrast  to  the  stillness  of  the  sacred  grounds, 
and  forcibly  reminding  him  that  there  is  but  a  step  between 
the  abodes  of  the  living  and  the  city  of  the  dead. 

Population,  1251.  Number  of  polls,  282.  Inventory, 
$463,635.  Value  of  lands,  $291,560.  Stock  in  trade, 
$16,200.  Money  on  deposit,  &c.,  $37,980.  Number  of 
sheep,  1497.     Do.  neat  stock,  909.     Do.  horses,  170. 

Gilford,  shire  town  of  Belknap  county.  Bounded 
north  by  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  east  by  Alton,  south  by 
Gilraanton,  and  west  by  Long  Bay  and  Meredith.     Area, 


GA/r.TTi;i:ii  or  m:\v  hampsiiike.  219 

23,000  acres.  '.lo  miles  iiortli-eust  from  Concord.  The 
soil  is  generally  productive  and  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. There  are  two  ponds  —  Little  and  Chattleborough. 
Gunstock  and  Mile's  Elvers,  rising  In  Suncook  Mountains, 
and  flowing  in  a  northerly  direction  into  the  lake,  are  the 
principal  streams.  Two  islands  in  the  lake,  belonging  to 
Gilford,  are  connected  with  it  by  bridges,  one  of  which  is 
30  rods  in  length.  Four  bridges  across  the  Winnipiseogee 
connect  this  town  with  Meredith.  Gilford  village  and 
Meredith  village  are  connected  by  a  bridge  across  Winni- 
.  piseogee  River,  and  both  are  called  Meredith  Bridge  ;  (for  a 
description  of  which,  see  Meredith.)  The  Suncook  Moun- 
tains extend  in  a  tOAvering  pile  tlu-ough  the  easterly  part  of 
tbe  town,  from  Gilmanton  nearly  to  the  lake. 

This  is  a  thriving  town,  and  the  village  connected  with 
the  Meredith  side  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  and  pleas- 
ant villages  in  New  Hampshire.  This  town,  which  was 
incorporated  June  IG,  1812,  was  formerly  a  part  of  Gil- 
manton. It  was  settled  in  1778  by  James  Ames  and  S.  S. 
Gilman.  The  Freewill  Baptist  society,  formed  in  1798 
under  Elder  Richard  Martin,  was  the  first  religious  society 
established  in  Gilford.  Elder  Uriah  Morrison  was  ordained 
over  a  Baptist  society  in  1808.  Elder  William  Blaisdell 
was  ordained  over  the  Christian  Baptist  society  in  1809. 
There  are  at  present  one  Calvinist  Baptist  and  three  Free- 
will Baptist  societies  in  this  town. 

Population,  2425.  Number  of  polls,  594.  Inventory, 
$604,333.  Value  of  lands,  $357,148.  Stock  in  trade, 
$9460.  Value  of  mills  and  machinery,  ,$7200.  ]Money 
at  interest,  $29,407.  Number  of  sheep,  2209.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1716.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  257. 

GiLMANTOX,  Belknap  county.     Bounded  north  by  Gil- 


220  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

ford  and  Alton,  east  by  Alton  and  Barnstead,  south  by- 
Canterbury  and  Northfield,  and  west  by  Sanbornton  and 
Great  Bay.  Area,  63,500  acres.  25  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  8  south-west  from  Gilford.  This  town 
is  watered  by  the  Winnipiseogee,  Suncook,  and  Soucook 
Kivers.  The  source  of  the  Suncook  is  a  pond  on  the  top 
of  one  of  the  Suncook  Mountains,  900  feet  above  its  base. 
The  water  of  this  pond  falls  into  another  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  about  one  mile  in  length  and  half  a  mile  in 
width ;  flowing  through  this,  it  falls  into  another,  covering 
about  500  acres,  from  which  it  winds  through  the  town, 
receiving  several  streams  in  its  course.  Gilmanton  is  very 
hilly  and  rocky.  The  north  part  bounds  upon  Suncook 
Mountains,  from  which  a  chain  of  hills  extends  in  a  south- 
erly direction.  The  soil  is  hard,  but  fruitful,  and  has  been 
brought  to  a  very  high  state  of  cultivation.  No  part  of 
the  state  presents  a  more  pleasing  and  picturesque  appear- 
ance to  the  eye  of  the  agriculturist.  Quartz  crystals  of 
considerable  size  are  found  near  Shell  Camp  Pond.  For- 
merly bog  iron  ore  of  a  good  quality  was  taken  in  large 
quantities  from  the  bottom  of  Lougee  Pond  by  means  of 
long  tongs.  Porcupine  Hill  is  a  remarkably  abrupt  preci- 
pice of  granite,  gneiss,  and  mica  slate  rock,  which  form,  by 
their  overhanging  strata  and  deep  ravines,  a  pleasant  and 
favorite  resort  of  the  students  of  Gilmanton  Academy  —  an 
old  and  highly  respectable  institution  of  learning.  Below 
this  steep  precipice  is  a  deep  and  shady  dell,  thickly  clad 
with  dark,  evergreen  foliage  of  forest  trees  ;  while  the  rocks 
are  wreathed  in  rich  profusion  by  curious  and  beautiful 
lichens,  or  mosses.  Wild  plants  are  abundant  and  various. 
Gilmanton  Academy  was  incorporated  October  13,  1762. 
This  town  was  granted.  May  20,  172T,  to  24  persons  named 
Oilman,  and  152  others.     The  settlement  was  delayed  and 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  221 

interrupted  by  the  frequent  depredations  of  the  Indians. 
In  December,  1761,  Benjamin  and  John  Mudgett,  with 
their  families,  settled  here.  Dorothy  Weed,  the  first  child, 
was  born  here  October  13,  1762.  A  Baptist  church  was 
organized  here  November  16,  1773.  Elder  Walter 
Powers  was  ordained  June  14,  1786 ;  dismissed  in  1806. 
The  Congregational  church  was  formed  November  30, 
1774,  and  Eev.  Isaac  Smith  ordained.  There  are  also 
Methodist  and  Freewill  Baptist  societies  in  this  town. 
Hon.  William  Badger,  formerly  governor  of  this  state,  was 
a  native  and  citizen  of  Gilmantou. 

Population,  3282.  Number  of  polls,  704.  Inventory, 
1983,253.  Stock  in  trade,  $13,256.  Value  of  lands, 
$556,600.  Number  of  sheep,  3507.  Do.  neat  stock, 
3920.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  546. 

GiLSUM,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Alstead, 
east  by  Stoddard  and  Keene,  south  by  Keene,  and  west 
by  Surrey.  Area,  9456  acres.  46  miles  south-west  from 
Concord,  and  9  north  from  Keene.  The  surface  is  gener- 
ally uneven  and  stony.  The  soil  is  fertile ;  and  in  many 
parts  good  arable  land,  free  from  stone,  is  to  be  found. 
Ashuelot  River  runs  through  this  town,  and  aiFords  several 
excellent  Avater  privileges.  There  is  a  small  body  of  water 
in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town  called  Cranberry  Pond. 
Near  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Bingham  there  is  a  huge 
block  of  loose  granite  resting  upon  the  crushed  edges  of  a 
strata  of  mica  slate.  This  immense  bowlder  has  received  the 
name  of  Vessel  Rock,  and  appears  to  have  been  stranded 
upon  the  mica  slate  ledge,  whither  it  was  driven  and  depos- 
ited by  the  powerful  drift  current  which  passed  over  the 
country  in  ancient  times.  A  large  piece  of  this  rock  was 
split  off  from  the  mass  by  some  external  force  in  the  winter 
19* 


.^22  :>vEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

of  1817.  The  pnncipal  block  measures  26  feet  long  by 
24  in  width  and  26  in  height. 

There  are  in  this  town  two  stores,  one  hotel,  and  two 
woollen  factories.  In  one,  owned  and  occupied  by  Eben- 
ezer  Jones,  about  15,000  yards  of  choice  broadcloth  are 
manufactured  annually.  The  number  of  hands  employed 
is  20.  Capital  invested,  ,^15,000.  Ebenezer  Jones  pro- 
prietor. In  the  other  are  manufactured  about  40,000  yards 
of  flannel  per  annum.  Number  of  hands  employed,  12. 
Capital  invested,  $9000.  There  is  also  a  factory  for 
making  bobbins,  a  chair  factory,  and  a  large  tannery.  Gil- 
sum  was  first  granted,  December  8,  1752,  to  Joseph 
Osgood,  Jacob  Farmer,  and  others,  and  was  called  Boyle. 
It  w&s  regranted,  July  1-3,  1763,  to  Messrs.  Gilbert  and 
Sumner,  and  others.  From  the  union  of  the  first  syllables 
of  these  two  names  is  derived  the  name  Gilsum.  First  set- 
tlement in  1764,  by  Josiah  Kilburn.  The  Congregational 
church  was  established  in  1772  ;  incorporated  in  1816. 
There  are  now  two  meeting  houses  —  one  owned  by  the 
Congregational,  the  other  by  the  Methodist,  society. 

Population,  666.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  157. 
Inventory,  $187,030.  Value  of  lands,  $76,531.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  1413.  Do.  neat  stock,  531.  Do.  horses 
and  mules,  94. 

GoFFSTOWN,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Dunbarton  and  Hooksctt,  east  by  Ilooksett  and  Manchester, 
south  by  Bedford,  and  west  by  New  Boston  and  Weare. 
Area,  29,170  acres.  16  miles  south  from  Concord,  12 
north  from  Amherst,  and  6  north-west  from  Manchester. 
Merrimack  River  forms  part  of  the  eastern  boundary. 
Piscataqua  River  runs  through  its  centre.  There  are 
two  considerable  elevations  in  tliis  town,  which  bear  the 


•GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    IIAMPSIIIIIE.  223 

Indian  name  of  Uncannunuc.  Excepting  those  elevations, 
Goffstown  is  less  broken  and  hilly  /than  the  adjoining  towns. 
On  the  rivers  are  large  tracts  of  valuable  interval.  Back 
from  the  rivers  are  extensive  plains,  not  so  rich  in  soil,  but 
easily  and  carefully  cultivated.  From  the  plains  the  land 
rises  in  large,  but  gradual,  swells,  rocky  in  some  parts,  but 
excellent  for  grazing.  A  Congregational  society  was  formed 
here  in  1771  ;  a  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1820. 
This  town  was  in  early  times  a  favorite  resort  of  the  In- 
dians, who  found  ample  support  in  the  abundance  of  fish 
in  its  limits.  It  was  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors, 
in  1748,  to  Bev.  Thomas  Parker  and  others,  of  Dracut, 
Massachusetts.  At  present  the  Baptists  are  the  only  so- 
ciety who  have  a  settled  pastor.  There  arc  nine  sawmills 
ajid  four  gristmills,  two  hotels  and  eight  stores,  one  factory 
for  the  manufacture  of  batting,  one  shoe  manufactory,  in 
which  are  employed  100  hands,  two  sash  and  blind  facto- 
ries, two  wheelwright  shops,  and  six  blacksmith  shops. 

Population,  2270.  Number  of  houses,  416.  Do.  fami- 
lies, 441.  Do.  farms,  272.  Inventory,  |658,509.  Value 
of  lands,  $457,175.  Stock  in  trade,  $16,212.  Number 
of  sheep,  700.  Do.  neat  stock,  1644.  Do.  horses  and 
mules,  283.     Do.  polls,  424. 

GoRHAM,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Berlin,  east 
by  Shelburne,  south  by  the  northerly  base  of  the  White 
Mountains,  and*  west  by  Rtrndolph.  Area,  18,140  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  96  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster, 
20,  east.  It  was  formerly  called  Shelburne  Addition.  It 
is  a  rough,  cold,  and  unproductive  township.  Several 
streams,  swarming  with  trout,  descend  from  the  mountains 
into  the  Androscoggin  River  in  this  town. 

Population,    224.     Number  of    polls,  51.     Inventory, 


ii34  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

$65,230.     Value  of  lands,  $40,744.     Number  of  sheep, 
115.     Do.  neat  stock,  100.     Do.  horses,  48. 

GosHEX,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Sunapee, 
east  by  Newbury,  south  by  Washington,  and  west  by  Unity 
and  Newport.  Area,  12,023  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 42  miles,  north-west ;  from  Newport,  10,  south-east. 
From  Sunapee  Mountain,  lying  in  the  east  part  of  this 
town,  spring  numerous  small  streams,  which  unite  in  form- 
ing Sugar  River.  Rand's  Pond  is  in  the  north-east  part 
of  the  town.  The  soil  is  particularly  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  grass.  Large  quantities  of  maple  sugar  are  manufac- 
tui'ed  here  annually.  A  plumbago  vein  of  considerable 
extent  and  richness  is  wrought  here.  The  varieties  of  rock 
are  mica,  slate,  gneiss,  and  granite.  A  Congregational 
church  was  formed  here  in  1802,  and  a  Baptist  society  in 
1803.  There  is  also  a  society  called  Christians.  There 
are  two  stores  and  five  common  schools  in  this  town.  Go- 
sWi  was  formed  of  territory  taken  from  Newport,  Suna- 
pee, Newbury,  Washington,  Lempster,  and  Unity.  It  was 
incorporated  December  27,  1791.  The  first  settlement 
was  made  in  that  part  then  called  Wendall,  now  Sunapee, 
by  Captain  Benjamin  Rand,  William  Lang,  and  Daniel 
Grindlc,  whose  sufferings  and  hardships  were  very  great. 
Their  cro]is  were  often  greatly  injured,  and  sometimes  en- 
tirely cut  off,  by  early  frosts.  In  such  cases  they  were 
obliged  to  go  to  Walpole  or  Charlestowif  for  grain.  Dur- 
ing a  winter  of  great  scarcity  Captain  Rand  went  to  Wal- 
pole after  grain ;  and  being  detained  by  a  violent  snow  storm, 
his  family  were  obliged  to  live  six  days  without  provisions, 
during  which  time  Mrs.  Rand  sustained  one  of  her  chil- 
dren, five  years  of  age,  by  milk  from  her  breast,  her  infant 
child  having  died  a  short  time  before. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  225 

Population,  G59.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 166. 
Inventory,  $181,372.  Value  of  lands,  $92,476.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  2744.    Do.  neat  stock,  824.    Do.  horses,  143. 

GosPORT,  Rockingham  county.  One  of  the  Isles  of 
Shoals,  formerly  called  Af)pleton,  and  afterwards  Star  Isl- 
and. It  contains  about  150  acres.  Gosport  was  early  in- 
vested with  town  privileges.  In  1728  the  inhabitants  paid 
£16  as  their  proportion  of  the  province  tax  of  £1000. 
Subsequently  a  meeting  house  and  a  fort  were  built  on  its 
west  point.  Since  those  times  its  business  has  been  con- 
siderably diminished.  "Within  a  few  years,  however,  it  has 
revived  somewhat.  The  inhabitants  are  principally  engaged 
in  fishing.  In  this  pursuit  50  men  are  engaged.  The 
amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  cod  fishery  is  $2000, 
mackerel  fishery  $2500,  herring  fishery  $500. 

There  is  a  school,  which  is  kept  most  of  the  time  during 
the  year.  There  is  a  religious  society  of  the  Christian 
sect.  There  is  also  a  large  and  convenient  hotel  on  ^s 
island,  constructed  for  the  accommodation  and  comfort  of 
pleasure  seekers,  visitors,  and  travellers  generally.  The 
Isles  of  Shoals  are  places  of  fashionable  resort  in  the  warm 
seasons,  and  are  very  healthy  summer  residences. 

Population,  103.     Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  35. 

Grafton,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Orange, 
east  by  Alexandria  and  Danbury,  south  by  Springfield,  and 
west  by  Enfield  and  Canaan.  Area,  21,993  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concojd,  36  miles,  north-west ;  from  Haverhill, 
60  miles,  south-east.  Smith's  River,  a  tributary  of  the 
Merrimack,  i-uns  throusfh  this  to^vn  in  a  south-easterly  di- 
rection. There  are  five  ponds ;  the  largest,  covering  fi'om 
200  to  300  acres,  is  called  Grafton  Pond.  Isinglass 
Hill,  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town,  contains  a  vein  of 


226  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS, 

mica,  which  is  wrought  during  the  summer  season,  and 
yields  nearly  50,000  pounds  of  mica  suitable  for  commerce. 
The  view  from  this  hill  is  picturesque.  An  abrupt  preci- 
pice, too  steep  for  ascent,  on  its  north-east  side,  descends 
into  a  dark  copse  of  woods ;  while  to  the  south  is  an  exten- 
sive, and  variegated  picture  of  fountains  and  undulating 
hills,  covered  with  green  forest,  and  interspersed  with  a  few 
cleared  and  fertile  valleys.  Beryls  of  large  size  are  ob- 
tained from  John's  Hill,  an  eminence  about  one  mile  south- 
west from  Glass  Hill.  There  are  two  meeting  houses  — 
one  belonging  to  the  Freewill  Baptist  society,  and  the  other 
to  the  Union  Religious  Society. 

Grafton  was  granted,  August  14,  1761,  to  Ephraim 
Sherman  and  others.  The  first  permanent  settlement  was 
made  in  1772,  by  Captain  Joseph  Hoyt,  from  Poplin.  A 
Baptist  church  was  formed  here  in  1785.  The  Freewill 
Baptist  chui'ch  was  formed  in  1817. 

Population,  1259.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  $289,490.  Value  of  lands,  |166,390. 
Number  of  sheep,  2955.  Do.  neat  stock,  1361.  Do. 
hprses,  177. 

Grantham,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  En- 
field, east  by  Springfield  and  Croydon,  south  by  Croydon, 
and  west  by  Plainfield.  Area,  24,900  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  40  miles,  north-west ;  from  Newport,  12, 
north.  There  are  seven  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  is 
called  Eastman's  Pond,  covering  nearly  300  acres ;  another, 
near  the  centre  of  the  town,  covers  about  200  acres.  The 
surface  is  broken  and  hilly  in  some  parts.  The  soil  is  pro- 
ductive, and  some  of  the  farms  «,long  its  southern  and 
western  borders  are  highly  cultivated.  Croydon  Mountain 
extends  in  a  direction  from  south-west  to  north-east  through 
this  town.     Upon  the  summit  is  a  pond,  covering  about  80 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  227 

acres.  The  more  hilly  parts  are  excellent  for  pasturage. 
It  is  well  watered  by  numerous  brooks,  many  of  which 
abound  with  trout.  In  the  north-west  corner  of  the  town 
is  found  in  large  quantities  a  substance  which,  being 
clarified,  produces  a  paint  similar  to  spruce  yellow,  or, 
being  burned,  to  Spanish  brown.  Grantham  was  granted 
July  11,  1761 ;  but  the  proprietoi-s  not  fulfilling  the  con- 
ditions of  the  charter,  it  was  forfeited.  In  1767  it  was 
regranted  to  Colonel  "William  Symmes  and  63  others 
under  its  present  name. "  The  name  was  afterwards  changed 
by  the  prefix  "New,"  which  was  in  a  few  years  after 
dropped.  The  inhabitants  upon  the  west  side  of  the 
mountain  are  closely  connected  with  Meriden  parish,  in 
Plainfield,  in  matters  of  general  intercourse  and  business. 
On  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain  is  a  Methodist  meeting 
house. 

Population,  784.  Number  of  polls,  183.  Inventory, 
$261,739.  Value  of  lands,  $150,053.  Number  of  sheep, 
5636.     Do.  neat  stock,  1110.     Do.  horses,  186. 

Greenfield,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Bennington  and  Francestown,  east  by  Francestown  and 
Lyndeborough,  south  by  Lyndeborough,  and  west  by 
Peterborough  and  Hancock.  Area,  16,904  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  38  miles,  south-west;  from  Amherst,  14, 
north-west.  The  surface  is  rough;  the  soil  is  various; 
the  hills  are  generally  good  for  grazing,  and  the  valleys  for 
tillage.  A  part  of  Crotched  Mountain  rises  from  the  north 
part,  and  part  of  Lyndeborough  Mountain  from  the  south 
and  east  sections  of  the  town.  There  are  a  few  valuable 
meadows.  In  one  of  them  have  been  found  many  Indian 
rehcs,  thus  indicating  that  this  must  have  been  a  favorite 
resort  of  the  sons  of  the  forest.     There   are  five  ponds; 


228  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

one  about  a  mile  in  length,  and  one  third  of  a  mile  in 
width.  There  are  no  streams  of  importance.  The  industry 
of  the  people  is  almost  entirely  agricultural.  The  first 
settlement  was  made,  in  1771,  by  Captain  Alexander 
Parker,  Major  A.  Whittemore,  and  others.  It  was  incorpo- 
rated June  15,  1791.  Its  present  name  was  given  by  Major 
Whittemore.  A  Congregational  church  was  formed  in 
1791. 

Population,  716.  Houses,  149.  Families,  160.  Farms, 
80.  Value  of  lands,  $180,691.  Inventory,  $248,483. 
Number  of  sheep,  863.  Do.  neat  stock,  910.  Do.  horses, 
166.     Do.  polls,  171. 

Greenland,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Green  Bay  and  Newington,  east  by  Portsmouth,  south  by 
North  Hampton,  and  west  by  Stratham.  Area,  6335  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  45  miles,  south-east;  from  Ports- 
niouth,  5,  west.  The  soil  is  remai'kably  good,  and  under  high 
cultivation.  The  orchards  and  gardens  are  valuable,  and 
yield  large  profits  to  the  farmers.  Greenland  is  celebrated 
for  its  excellent  fruit.  This  was  originally  a  part  of  Ports- 
mouth, and  was  incorporated  in  1703.  Settlements  com- 
menced early,  and  in  1705  there  were  320  inhabitants. 
Kev.  William  Allen,  the  first  minister,  was  ordained  July 
15,  1707;  died  September  8,  1760,  aged  84.  Rev.  Samuel 
McClintock,  D.  D.,  a  learned  divine,  active  in  the  cause 
of  his  coimtry,  and  a  chaplain  in  the  revolutionary  army, 
was  a  colleague  of  Mr.  Allen,  and  his  successor.  The 
Methodist  church  was  formed  in  1809.  There  is  a  fund 
of  $5000,  the  income  of  which  is  applied  to  the  support 
of  a  Congregational  minister  and  for  missionary  enter- 
prises.    The  Eastern  Raihoad  passes  tlu'ough  this  town. 

Population,  739.     Number  of  polls,  175.      Inventory, 


i 


GAZETTEER   OP   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  229 

$344,379.  Value  of  lands,  $225,830.  Shares  in  corpo- 
rations, $20,602.  Number  of  sheep,  469.  Do.  neat  stock, 
580.     Do.  horses,  121. 

Groton,  Grafton  covinty.  Bounded  north  by  Went- 
wprth  and  Rumney,  east  by  Hebron,  south  by  Orange,  and 
west  by  Dorchester.  Area,  16,531  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  45  miles,  north-west ;  from  Plymouth,  10,  west. 
The  northerly  part  is  watered  by  Baker's  River ;  and  the 
southerly  has  several  small  streams,  which  flow  into  New- 
found Lake.  Spectacle  Pond  lies  about  a  mile,  north-east, 
from  Groton  meeting  house.  There  are  ten  sawmills,  two 
gristmills,  besides  shingle  and  clapboard  machines;  there 
is  also  one  store,  and  one  meeting  house.  The  Unive1:salist 
society  is  the  largest  of  the  religious  societies.  This  is  a 
somewhat  cold,  though  healthy,  township.  The  surface  is 
uneven,  but  the  soil  is  strong.  Corn  and  potatoes  are  the 
principal  crops.  This  town  was  granted,  July  8,  1761,  to 
George  Abbott  and  others,  under  the  name  of  Cocker- 
mouth;  afterwards  regranted  to  Colonel  John  Hale  and 
others.  The  first  settlement  was  commenced  in  1770  by 
James  Gould,  Captain  E.  Melvin,  Jonas  Hobart,  Phinehas 
Bennet,  and  Samuel  Farley.  In  1779  a  Congregational 
society  was  formed,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Perley  was  ordained. 
He  was  succeeded,  in  1790,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Page. 

Population,  776.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  180. 
Inventory,  $176,936.  Value  of  lands,  $100,112.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  1979.  Do.  neat  stock,  1008.  Do.  horses, 
133. 

Hampsteat,  Rockingham  county.     Bounded  north  by 
Sandown   and  Danville,  east  by  Kingston   and  Plaistow, 
south  by  Plaistow  and  Atkinson,  and  west  by  Derry.    Area, 
20 


230  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

8350  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30  miles,  south-east; 
from  Exeter,  12,  south-west.  This  town  lies  partly  on  the 
height  of  land  between  Merrimack  and  Piscataqua  Rivers. 
Most  of  the  waters  descend  through  Spiggot  River,  which 
flows  from  Wash  Pond,  near  the  centre  of  the  to^vn. 
Angly  Pond  hes  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  and 
is  drained  by  the  Powwow  River.  Island  Pond  contains  a 
valuable  farm  of  300  acres.  Hampstead  is  an  irregular 
shaped  town,  its  contour  being  varied  by  about  30  angles. 
The  soil  is  haid  and  stony.  The  tract  comprising  this 
town  was  considered  as  a  part  of  Haverhill  and  Amesbury, 
Massachusetts,  until  1741.  About  1728  Mr.  Emerson 
made  a  settlement  in  the  south  part,  near  a  brook ;  and  at 
that  flme  only  a  Mr.  Ford  and  two  Indians  lived  in  the 
place.  It  was  granted  by  Governor  Penning  Wentworth, 
January  19,  1749,  and  named  by  him  after  a  pleasant  vil- 
lage five  miles  north  of  London,  in  England.  In  the  early 
settlement  of  the  town  a  dispute  arose  between  Kingston 
and  Hampstead  respecting  certain  grants  made  by  Ames- 
buiy  before  the  state  line  was  established,  which  was  settled 
by  Hampstead  papng  £1000,  old  tenor. 

About  1750  a  meeting  house  was  erected,  and  Rev. 
Hemy  True  (Congregational)  was  ordained  June  3,  1752 ; 
he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Kelly  in  1792.  Hon. 
Jolin  Calfe,  for  twenty-five  years  a  justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  for  the  same  number  of  years  clerk  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  was  a  native  of  this  town. 
There  are  eight  common  schools,  one  hotel,  three  stores, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  four  wheelwright  shops,  and  one 
establishment  for  the  manufacture  of  tools  of  various  kinds. 
About  120  persons  are  engaged  in  making  shoes.  A  lai-ge 
gristmill  is  in  process  of  construction. 

Population,  789.     Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  221 


n 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  231 

Inventory,  f  302,974.    Value  of  lands,  |207,819.     Num- 
ber  of  sheep,  89.     Do.  neat  stock,  480.     Do.  horses,  107. 

Hampton,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
North  Hampton,  east  by  the  Atlantic,  south  by  Hampton 
Falls,  and  west  by  Exeter.  Area,  81^0  acres,  1800  of 
which  are  salt  marsh,  and  650  sand  banks  between  the 
marsh  and  high-water  mark  of  the  ocean.  Distance  from 
Concord,  50  miles,  south-east;  from  Exeter,  7,  east.  The 
surface  is  generally  level,  gradually  descending  towards  the 
sea.  The  soil  is  excellent,  well  adapted  to  tillage  and 
mowing,  but  there  is  not  pasturage  sufficient  for  grazing 
to  any  extent.  It  is  pleasantly  situated,  its  numerous 
eminences  affording  delightful  views  of  the  pcean.  Isles  of 
Shoals,  and  the  sea  coast  from  Portsmouth  to  Cape  Ann. 
Hampton  Beach  has  long  been  a  celebrated  resort  for  inva- 
lids and  seekers  of  pleasure.  There  is  an  excellent  hotel 
at  this  place  for.  the  accommodation  of  visitors.  Boar's  Head 
is  an  abrupt  eminence,  of  singular  shape,  which  extends 
into  the  sea,  and  divides  the  two  beaches,  which  otherwise 
would  be  continuous.  At  this  point,  a  little  distance  from 
the  shore,  fishing  is  excellent,  and  cod  are  frequently  taken 
in  great  abundance.  Ship  building  is  carried  on  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  here.  The  Indian  name  of  this  town  was 
Winnicummet.  It  was  first  settled,  in  1638,  by  emigrants 
from  the  county  of  Norfolk,  England.  The  first  house 
was  erected  in  1636.  Hampstead  was  incorporated  in 
1638,  and  then  included  North  Hampton,  Hampton  Falls, 
Kensington,  and  Seabrook.  In  the  same  year  a  Congrega- 
tional church  was  estabUshed  here,  which  was  the  second  in 
New  Hampshire.  The  first  pastor.  Rev.  Stephen  Bachelor, 
was  ordained  1638.  A  Baptist  society  was  incorporated 
in  1817.    During  the  early  period  of  its  settlement,  Hamp- 


2S2  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS  IT   IS, 

stead  was  the  scene  of  Indian  depredations.  On  tlie  1 1th 
of  August,  1703,  a  paity  of  Indians  killed  five  persons, 
among  whom  was  a  widow  Mussey,  celebrated  as  a  preach- 
er among  the  Quakers.  There  is  a  fund  here  of  $12,000, 
the  interest  of  which  is  devoted  to  the  support  of  a  Con- 
gregational ministet. 

Population,  1197.  Number  of  polls,  287.  Inventory, 
$494,613.  Value  of  lands,  $362,070.  Stock  in  trade, 
$6860.  Number  of  sheep,.  384.  Do.  neat  stock,  842. 
Do.  horses,  143. 

Hampton  Falls,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Hampton,  east  by  the  Atlantic,  south  by  Seabrook,  and 
west  by  Kensington  and  Exeter.  Area,  7400  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  45  miles,  south-east ;  from  Exeter,  7, 
east.  The  soil  is  similar  to  that  of  Hampton,  of  which  it 
originally  formed  a  part.  It  was  incorporated  in  1712, 
and  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Theophilus  Cotton,  the  first 
minister,  was  ordained.  There  is  also  a  Baptist  and  a 
Unitarian  society  here. 

Population,  640.  Number  of  polls,  131.  Inventory, 
$281,219.  Value  of  lands,  $187,690.  Number  of  sheep, 
392.     Do.  neat  stock,  854.     Do.  horses,  79. 

Hancock,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Antrim,  east  by  Bennington  and  Greenfield,  south  by  Pe- 
terborough, and  west  by  Nelson.  Area,  19,372  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  35  miles,  south-west  ;*  from  Am- 
herst, 22,  north-west.  The  soil  is  various ;  sandy,  clayey, 
and  rocky  in  the  north  and  west,  with  fine  meadows  along 
the  Contoocook  River,  which  forms  its  eastern  boun- 
dary. The  west  part  of  the  town  is  mountainous,  and 
affords  excellent  pasturing,  besides  some  very  good  tillage. 


4 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

There  are  two  ponds  of  considerable  size  —  on«^  near  the 
centre  of  the  town,  is  called  Norway  Pond  ;  and  the  other, 
from  its  shape,  is  called  Half  Moon  Pond. 

The  meeting  house  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  on  a  handsome  plain,  in  a  thriving  and  pleasant  vil- 
lage. This  meeting  house  was  built  in  1820,  and  the 
pews  were  sold  in  one  day,  at  auction,  for  ^7000.  The 
town  bears  little  of  the  impress  of  change  in  opinions  or 
customs.  It  is  emphatically  one  of  those  good  jald  farming 
towns  where  any  one  would  be  proud  to  point  out  the 
home  of  his  ancestors.  The  postmaster  here  has  not  been 
removed  since  his  appointment  forty-two  years  ago.  The 
Congregational  society  has  had  but  three  ministers  since 
its  formation.  Rev.  Reed  Page  settled  September  21, 
1791  ;  Rev.  Archibald  Burgess  in  1822 ;  Rev.  Asahel 
Bigelow  in  1850.  Hancock  was  incorporated  November 
5,  1779.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Governor  Hancock, 
of  Boston,  who  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors.  The 
first  settlement  was  begun  in  May,  1764,  by  John  Grimes. 

Population,  1012.  Number  of  polls,  199.  Do.  houses, 
212.  Do.  fiimilies,  226.  Do.  farms,  35.  Value  of  lands, 
$241,660.  Inventory,  $387,130.  Stock  in  trade;  $5430. 
Number  of  sheep,  1112.  Do.  neat  stock,  1390.  Do. 
horses,  245. 

Hanover,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lyme, 
east  by  Canaan,  south  by  Lebanon,  and  west  by  Norwich, 
Vermont.  Area,  27,745  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
52  miles,  north  ;  from  Haverhill,  30,  south.  There  is  in 
this  town  no  considerable  stream  or  river  excepting  the 
Connecticut.  Mink  Brook,  Slate  Brook,  and  Goose  Pond 
Brook  are  the  principal  streams.  Neither  of  these  is  suf- 
ficient for  mill  privileges.  There  are  several  small  islands 
20* 


234  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT   IS. 

in  Connecticut  River  within  the  Kmits  of  Hanover,  the 
largest  of  which  is  Parker's  Island,  containing  about  20 
acres.  The  original  growth  of  wood  is  maple,  beech, 
birch,  ash,  bass,  hemlock,  spruce,  and  pine.  When  the 
town  was  first  settled  the  largest  proportion  of  forest  trees 
was  hardwood.  The  surface  of  Hanover  is  agreeably 
di^•^rsified  with  hills  and  valleys,  and  nearly  all  is  very 
easily  cultivated.  The  proportion  of  waste  land  is  prob- 
ably less  thjn  in  any  other  town  in  Grafton  county.  Some 
of  the  farms  are. under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
soil  is  generally  fertile.  MoQse  IMountain  is  a  considerable 
elevation,  extending  across  the  town  from  north  to  south, 
at  a  distance  of  about  five  miles  from  Connecticut  River. 
The  principal  village  is  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
town,  on  a  beautiful  and  extensive  plain,  about  half  a 
mile  from  Connecticut  River,  and  180  feet  above  the  level 
of  its  waters.  Vegetable  substances  have  been  found,  in 
diflFerent  parts  of  this  plain,  50  and  80  feet  below  the 
surface.  The  Common,  or  Park,  is  a  square,  level  area  of 
about  six  acres,  shaded  by  rows  of  thrifty  maples,  and  sur- 
rounded by  .streets  of  considerable  width.  On  the  north 
side  is  the  residence  of  the  president  of  the  College,  the 
residence  of  the  late  Hon.  Mills  Olcott,  and  the  meeting 
house  and  chapel ;  on  the  west  is  a  street  containing  many 
beautiful  residences  and  gardens;  on  the  south  is  Dart- 
mouth Hotel,  several  stores,  and  the  Tontine,  a  brick  build- 
ing 4  stories  high  and  150  feet  in  length,  besides  several 
dwelling  houses  j  and  on  the  east  is  the  College  Yard,  a 
spacious  ground,  including  the  college  buildings,  which, 
with  the  Observatory,  are  five  in  number.  On  College 
Street,  a  few  rods  north  from  the  Park,  is  the  Medical 
Building,  a  brick  structure  some  CO  or  70  feet  in  length 
and  3  stories  in  height.     The  College  and  Medical  Build- 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  235 

ings  are  spacious,  convenient,  and  present  a  handsome  and 
imposing  appearance. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  locations  for  the  prose- 
cution of  study  in  New  England.  The  uniform  tempera- 
ture of  the  climate,  the  pleasantness  of  the  village,  the 
healthiness  of  the  situation,  the  beautiful  and  romantic 
scenery,  the  quiet  which  generally  prevails,  the  seclusion 
from  the  bustle  and  confusion  of  city  life,  the  many  pleas- 
ant resorts,  —  all  contribute  to  render  it,  in  ever^  essen- 
tial, a  seat  of  literature  and  science.  Pine  Grove,  and 
the  charming  view  from  it  of  the  majestic  Connecticut, 
gliding  its  waters  in  placid  stillness  by  verdant  meadows 
and  well-cultivated  fields,  and  the  gradually  rising  Green 
Hills  of  Vermont  seen  in  the  distance,  furnish  a  picture  not 
soon  forgotten  by  those  who  have  frequented  the  spot. 
For  a  more  particular  description  of  the  College,  see  an- 
other part  of  tliis  volume. 

Hanover  was  granted  by  charter,  July  4,  1761,  to  11 
pel-sons  of  the  name  of  Freeman,  and  52  others,  princi- 
pally from  Connecticut.  The  first  settlement  was  made  in 
May,  1765,  by  Colonel  Edmund  Freeman,  from  INIansfield, 
Connecticut.  In  1766  Benjamin  Rice,  Benjamin  Davis, 
Gideon  Smith,  and  Asa  Parker  settled  here.  In  1770 
Dartmouth  College  was  established  by  Dr.  Whcelock. 
The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1771.  The 
first  settled  minister  was  Rev.  Eden  Boroughs,  Avho  was 
installed  in  1772.  There  is  a  Baptist  society  and  also  an 
Episcopal  chiu'ch  here. 

Population,  2352.  Number  of  polls,  451.  Inventory, 
$698,996.  Value  of  lands,  |456,164.  Stock  in  trade, 
$15,015.  Money  on  deposit,  &c.,  $33,125.  Value  of 
shares  in  corporations,  $10,150.  Number  of  sheep, 
12,168.  Do.  neat  stock,  1526.  Do.  horses  and  mules, 
360. 


286  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Haverhill,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Bath, 
east  by  Benton,  south  by  Piermont,  and  west  by  Newbury, 
Vermont.  Area,  34,340  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
70  miles,  north-west.  This  is  one  of  the  shire  towns  of 
Grafton  county.  It  is  watered  by  OHverian  Brook,  run- 
ning through  its  southern  part  and  discharging  into  Con- 
necticut River,  and  by  Hazen  Brook,  running  through  the 
centre  of  the  town  and  falling  into  the  Connecticut  near 
the  "6rreat  Ox  Bow"  in  Newbury.  This  is  a  pleasant 
township.  The  soil  is  various,  adapted  to  every  species 
of  cultivation  common  to  the  climate.  There  is  consider- 
able interval,  covered  with  a  deep,  rich  loam.  The  plain 
at  Haverhill  Corner,  which  is  the  principal  village,  is 
covered  mostly  with  alluvial  soil.  There  is  a  beautiful 
Common  in  this  village,  laid  out  in  the  form  of  an  oblong 
square,  ornamented  with  trees,  and  enclosed  by  a  hand- 
some fence.  Around  the  Common  stand  the  buildings, 
several  of  which,  besides  the  meeting  house,  academy,  and 
hotel,  are  large  and  well  constructed.  The  location  is  a 
delightful  elevation,  overlooking  the  adjacent  country  for 
many  miles  in  extent.  From  the  street  the  ground  slopes 
gracefully  towards  the  river  until  it  reaches  the  intervals. 
The  county  buildings  are  of  brick,  and,  though  not  ex- 
pensively constructed,  are  neat  and  commodious. 

Haverhill  is  a  thriving  town.  Its  progress  was  con- 
siderably retarded  by  an  extensive  fire  some  years  since, 
which  consumed  several  buildings,  besides  other  property 
of  large  amount. 

Granite  in  tabular  sheets,  of  excellent  quality  and  easily 
wrought,  is  found  in  great  abundance  on  Catamount  Hill. 
Veins  of  copper  and  iron  pyrites,  sulphurets  of  lead  and 
zinc,  arsenic,  large  crystals  of  garnet,  and  talc,  or  soapstone, 
are   found  here  in  several   localities.      About  six  miles 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  .237 

north-easterly  from  the  \'illage,  on  the  west  side  of  Black 
Mountain,  is  a  bed  of  limestone  of  great  dimensions.  It 
is  of  a  pure  white  color,  and  highly  crystallized.  It  is  of 
inestimable  value.  Bog  iron  ore  of  a  superior  quality  ex- 
ists here.  The  Passumpsic  Railroad  passes  along  the 
western  border  of  the  town  ;  and  the  Boston,  Concord,  and 
Montreal  Railroad  passes  through  in  a  direction  nearly 
north-west  and  south-east.  The  Haverhill  Academy  was 
incorporated  February  11,  1794.  This  town  was  granted. 
May  18,  1764,  to  John  Hazen  aiid  74  others.  The  first 
settlement  was  made  in  the  same  year  by  Mr.  Hazen,  who 
built  his  encampment  on  the  "  Little  Ox  Bow,"  near  a 
spot  where  formerly  there  had  been  an  Indian  fort  and 
burying  ground,  from  whence  numerous  skulls  and  relics 
of  the  aborigines  have  been  taken.  Several  of  the  early 
settlers  were  from  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  from  which 
place  this  town  derived  its  name.  Its  original  name  was 
Lower  Cohos.  The  first  court  was  held  here  in  1773. 
The  first  minister  was  Rev.  Peter  Powers,  the  first  male 
child  born  in  Hollis,  who  was  settled  over  Haverhill  and 
Newbury,  Vermont,  in  1765  ;  dismissed  in  1784.  The 
First  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1790.  Rev. 
Ethan  Smith  was  ordained  January  25,  1792  ;  dismissed 
in  1799.  Rev.  John  Smith  was  ordained  December  23, 
1802 ;  dismissed  in  1807.  The  first  newspaper  was 
printed  here  April  21,  1808,  and  was  called  the  Coos 
Courier.  It  has  been  pubhshed  under  different  names.  At 
present  its  title  is  the  Democratic  Republican.  Hon.  John 
Page,  former  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  a  worthy  and 
useful  man,  is  a  citizen  of  this  town.  The  late  Hon. 
Joseph  Bell,  a  distinguished  lawyer,  who  by  his  industry 
and  abihty  amassed  a  large  property,  was  for  many  years 
a  resident  of  Haverhill ;  and  here  was  the  scene  of  his 
poverty,  his  labors,  and  success. 


238.  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Population,  2405.  Number  of  polls,  569.  Inventory, 
$699,442.  Value  of  lands,  |392,091.  Stock  in  trade, 
$14,600.  Number  of  sheep,  5631.  Do.  neat  stock,  2069. 
Do.  horses,  603. 

Hebron,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Plymouth 
and  Rumney,  east  by  Plymouth,  south  by  Orange,  and  west 
by  Groton.  Area,  13,350  acres,  1670  of  which  are  cov- 
ered with  water.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  north ; 
from  Plymouth,  9,  west.  Newfound  Lake  lies  mostly  in  this 
tpwn.  There  are  no  streams  of  importance.  The  people 
are  generally  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  ;  and  although 
the  surface  is  in  some  parts  rough  and  the  soil  hard,  yet, 
by  skill  and  industry,  excellent  wheat  and  potatoes  are 
raised  in  considerable  quantities.  A  large  portion  of  He- 
bron was  included  in  the  grant  of  Hebron  under  the  name 
of  Cockermouth.  The  remainder  was  taken  from  Plym- 
outh. It  was  incorporated  June  15,  1792.  There  is  an 
academy,  which  is  open  during  the  spring  and  fall.  There 
are  two  religious  societies  —  one  Congregational  and  one 
Methodist. 

Population,  565.  Number  of  polls,  107.  Inventory, 
$122,659.  Value  of  lands,  $71,695.  Stock  in  trade, 
$2700.  Number  of  sheep,  1697.  Do.  neat  stock,  564. 
Do.  horses,  61. 

Henniker,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Bradford  and  Warner,  east  by  Hopkinton,  south  by  Weare 
and  Deering,  and  west  by  Hillsborough.  Area,  26,500 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  15  miles,  west.  Contoo- 
cook  River  passes  easterly  through  the  centre  of  the  town. 
Its  course  is  winding,  and  in  many  places  presents  scenes 
of  beauty  and  interest.     There  are  several  ponds  of  con- 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

siderable  size.  Long  Pond,  nearly  two  miles  in  length 
and  about  sixty  rods  in  width,  is  situated  about  one  mile 
north  of  the  centre  village.  Craney  Hill  is  the  principal 
elevation,  and  includes  a  large  trad#on  the  south  side  of 
the  town.  It  is  mostly  under  high  cultivation.  In  its  soil 
and  productions,  Henniker  is  inferior  to  no  town  in  the 
county.  The  hills  yield  good  wheat  in  large  quantities, 
and  the  valleys  are  suitable  for  corn  and  grass  ;  besides,  its 
water  privileges  are  numerous  and  excellent.  The  River 
Railroad  connects  this  place  with  Manchester.  A  woollen 
factory,  where  cassimeres,  doeskins,  tweeds,  and  satinets  are 
manufactured  to  the  yearly  amount  of  120,000  yards,  is  in 
successful  operation.  Name  of  company,  Imri  Woods  & 
Sons.  Agent,  Imri  Woods.  Cost  of  buildings  and  ma- 
chinery, $6000.  Number  of  hands  employed,  12.  There 
are,  besides,  several  other  mills,  doing  business  on  a  mod- 
erate scale.  The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  devoted  to  agri- 
culture. Henniker  was  granted,  July  16,  1752,  by  the 
Masonian  proprietors,  under  the  name  of  Number  Six, 
to  James  Wallace,  Robert  Wallace,  and  others.  James 
Peters  was  the  first  settler,  who  erected  a  log  hut  here  in 
1761.  It  was  incorporated  November  10,  1768,  and  re- 
ceived its  name  in  honor  of  John  Henniker,  Esq.,  a 
wealthy  merchant  of  London,  and  a  friend  of  Governor 
Wentworth,  and  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  British 
Parliament  at  that  time.  The  Congregational  church  was 
established  here,  June  7,  1769,  under  the  charge  of  Rey. 
Jacob  Rice.  Hon.  Robert  Wallace,  who  filled  the  various 
offices  of  councillor,  senator,  representative,  and  associate 
justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  this  to^^^l. 

Population,  1690.     Number  of  polls,  373.     Inventory, 


240  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

$601,434  Value  of  lands,  $409,000.  Stock  in  trade, 
$6580.  Number  of  sheep,  1724.  Do.  neat  stock,  2037. 
Do.  horses,  327. 

Hill,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Danbury, 
Alexandria,  and  Bristol,  east  by  New  Hampton  and  Sanborn- 
ton,  south  by  Franklin  and  Andover,  and  west  by  Wilmot 
and  Danbury.  Area,  about  20,000  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  24  miles,  north ;  from  Haverhill,  44,  south-east ; 
from  Plymouth,  16,  south.  It  is  watered  by  Pemigewasset 
and  Blackwater  Rivers,  besides  several  small  streams.  Eagle 
Pond  is  the  only  body  of  water  of  note.  Ragged  Moun- 
tain is  a  rugged  elevation,  but  little  inferior  to  Kearsarge 
in  height.  Looking  from  the  summit  of  the  surrounding 
hills,  the  surface  of  this  town  appears  to  be  much  broken 
and  uneven  ;  still  there  arc  many  highly- cultivated  farms. 
The  soil  is  generally  good,  in  some  parts  very  fertile. 
Farming  is  almost  the  only  employment.  Trade,  manu- 
facturing, and  the  mechanic  arts  are  carried  on  to  a  very 
limited  extent.  Hill  was  granted,  September  14,  1753,  to 
87  proprietors,  who  held  their  first  meeting  in  Chester ; 
and  as  the  greater  part  were  from  that  place,  the  new  town 
was  called  New  Chester  until  January,  1837,  wh,en  it  re- 
ceived its  present  name.  The  first  settlement  was  made,  in 
1768,  by  Captain  Cutting  Favor  and  Carr  Huse,  Esq.  It 
was  incorporated  November  20,  1778.  The  Congrega- 
tional society  was  incorporated  December  11,  1816.  At 
present  there  is  one  Calvinist  Baptist  society,  one  Chiistian 
Baptist,  and  one  Methodist. 

Population,  951.  Number  of  polls,  225.  Inventory, 
$262,305.  Value  of  lands,  $151,065.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3300.  Number  of  sheep,  1532.  Do.  neat  stock,  945. 
Do.  horses,  145. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  ^1 

Hillsborough,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Bradford,  east  by  Henniker,  south  by  Deering  and 
Antrim,  and  west  by  "Windsor  and  Washington.  Area, 
27,320  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30  miles,  south- 
west ;  from  Amherst,  23  miles,  north-west.  This  town  is 
well  Avatered.  Hillsborough  and  Contoocook  Rivers  are 
the  principal  streams.  The  largest  b(?dy  of  water  is  Lyon's 
Pond  —  about  one  mile  in  length,  and  two  thirds  of  a  mile 
in  width.  The  surface  is  very  uneven  and  rocky  ;  the  soil 
is  strong  and  productive.  Plumbago  is  found  here  in  a 
state  of  extraordinary  purity.  It  occurs  in  narrow  veins, 
which  are  wrought  to  a  considerable  extent.  There  are  four 
meeting  houses,  five  religious  societies,  sixteen  stores,  eight 
saAV  and  gristmills,  three  hotels,  seven  blacksmith  shops, 
one  iron  foundery,  five  tanneries,  eight  Avheelwright  and 
furniture  shops,  two  sash  and  blind  factories,  one  bobbin 
factory,  tAvo  harness  makers'  shops,  two  clothing  stores, 
and  one  cotton  factory. 

In  the  cotton  factory  about  20  hands  are  employed. 
The  goods  manuflictured  consist  mostly  of  yarn  and  tAvine. 
The  village,  and  in  fact  the  Avhole  town,  presents  a  picture 
of  thrift  and  industry  seldom  equalled.  Idleness  finds  but 
few  patrons,  contentment  many.  The  two  extremes  of 
society  so  often  to  be  observed  elsewhere  are  not  to  be  met 
with  here.  An  elevated  spirit  seems  to  pervade  the  Avhole 
community,  Avhich  bespeaks  not  only  intelligence,  but  also 
a  high  sense  of  honor  and  integrity.  Hillsborough  Avas 
formerly  designated  as  Number  Seven  of  the  frontier  towns. 
The  first  settlement  Avas  made  in  1741,  by  James  McCalley, 
Samuel  Gibson,  Robert  McClure,  James  Lyon,  and  others. 
The  wife  of  James  McCalley  Avas  the  only  woman  in  town 
during  the  first  year  of  the  settlement.  When  the  Cape 
21 


242  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT   IS 

Breton  war  broke  out,  in  1744,  the  settlement  was  aban- 
doned, and  was  not  resumed  until  near  1757.  In  the^ 
mean  time  the  town  was  granted,  by  the  Masonian  pro- 
prietors, to  Colonel  John  Hill,  of  Boston,  from  whom  it 
received  its  present  name.  It  was  incorporated  Novem- 
ber 14,  1772.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized 
October  12,  1769.  In  November  of  the  same  year  Rev. 
Jonathan  Barns  was  ordained.  There  are  now  two  re- 
ligious societies  of  that  denomination.  A  Baptist  society 
was  organized  May  21,  1813.  There  is  also  a  Methodist 
and  a  Universalist  society,  neither  of  which,  however,  has  reg- 
ular preaching.  To  the  town  of  Hillsborough  is  conceded 
an  additional  importance  from  the  fact  that,  at  the  present 
time,  one  of  her  sons  occupies  the  high  position  of  chief 
magistrate  of  the  United  States,  while  another  holds  the 
office  of  governor  of  New  Hampshire.  The  old  farm  house 
where  President  Pierce  was  born  is  situated  on  the  old 
turnpike  leading  from  Francestown  through  Hillsborough 
Upper  Village,  near  the  terminus  of  the  Contoocook  Val- 
ley Railroad.  The  old  horse  shed,  in  one  end  of  Avhich  a 
room  was  finished  for  a  law  office,  where  the  future  presi- 
dent first  "  set  up  in  business,"  is  yet  standing,  and  shows 
from  what  humble  stations  the  path  of  honor  often  starts. 

The  birthplace  of  Governor  Baker,  like  that  of  most  of 
his  predecessors,  was  a  lowly  farm,  house,  where  green 
fields  and  growing  crops  constituted  the  show  of  splendor, 
and  honest  toil  was  the  passport  to  promotion. 

Population,  1685.  Ratable  polls,  466.  Legal  voters, 
423.  Number  of  houses,  363.  Families,  320.  Farms, 
200.  Inventory,  $rj()l,U)',].  Value  of  lands,  $351,443. 
Stock  in  trade,  $9075.  Factories,  $3200.  Number  of 
sheep,  1353.  Do.  neat  stock,  2120.  Do.  horses  and 
mules,  337. 


GAZETTEER    OF  NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  243 

Hinsdale,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Ches- 
.  terfield,  east  by  Winchester,  south  by  Northfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Avest  by  Vernon,  Vermont.  Area,  14,000 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  75  miles,  south-west ; 
from  Keene,  15,  south-west.  It  is  well  watered  with 
numerous  sprin2[s  and  streamlets.  Connecticut  River 
laves  its  western  border  for  a  distance  of  nine  and  a  half 
miles.  The  Ashuelot  River  passes  through  the  principal 
village,  and  discharges  into  the  Connecticut  a  short  distance 
below  the  great  bend  called  Cooper's  Point.  There  are 
numerous  excellent  water  jDrivileges  on  the  Ashuelot. 
There  are  several  islands  in  the  Connecticut  belonging  to 
this  tOAvn.  On  the  north  line  of  the  town  is  West  River 
Mountain,  which  extends  from  the  bank  of  the  Connecti- 
cut, in  an  easterly  direction,  across  the  entire  width  of  the 
town.  The  highest  peak  is  called  ]Mine  Mountain,  and  is 
about  900  feet  above  low-water  mark.  In  several  localities 
about  this  mountain  are  found  iron  ore,  beds  of  silicate  of 
manganese,  and  other  minerals.  Several  years  since  there 
were  signs  of  a  volcanic  eruption  in  this  mountain,  attend- 
ed by  a  discharge  of  a  molten  substance  resembling  lava. 
The  intervals  here  are  extensive  and  fertile.  Stebbin's 
Hill  is  a  large  swell  of  land,  under  high  cultivation.  Be- 
tween the  intervals  and  hills  is  a  large  tract  of  table  land, 
well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  corn  and  rye.  On  the  point 
of  a  hill  not  far  from  Connecticut  River  are  still  to  be 
seen  remains  of  an  Indian  fortification.  Tradition,  only, 
gives  any  account,  and  that  uncertain,  of  this  ancient 
structure.  This  region  was  evidently  a  favorite  resort  of 
the  sons  of  the  forest.  In  its  early  period  this  town  was 
subjected  to  the  dangers,  privations,  and  depredations  of 
Indian  wars.  The  settlers  were  protected  by  Fort  Dum- 
mer,  Hinsdale's    Fort,  Shattuck's    Fort,   and    Bridgman's 


244  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

Fort ;  but,  not^yithstanding,  they  were  ineffectually  shield- 
ed from  the  hostile  incursions  of  the  savages.  On  the  24th 
of  June,  1746,  a  party  of  twenty  Indians  suddenly  appeared 
before  the  last-mentioned  fort,  and  attacked  with  great  fury 
a  number  of  men  Avho  were  at  work  in  a  meadow.  Three 
persons  were  killed,  two  were  wounded,  and  two  were 
taken  prisoners.  One  of  the  captives,  Daniel  How,  in  the 
struggle  killed  one  of  the  Indians.  In  1747  they  de- 
stroyed Bridgman's  Fort,  killed  several  persons,  and  cap- 
tured others.  In  October  of  the  same  year  one  Jonathan 
Sawtell  was  taken  prisoner.  On  the  3d  of  July  they 
made  an  attack  upon  a  gristmill,  whither  Colonel  Willard, 
with  a  guard  of  twenty  men,  had  gone  for  the  purpose  of 
grinding  corn.  Soon  after  he  had  stationed  his  guards  the 
enemy  commenced  firing.  The  colonel  gave  such  loud 
and  repeated  orders  to  make  preparations  for  an  onset  upon 
the  Indians,  besides  placing  several  old  hats  upon  sticks, 
and  raising  them,  as  if  platforms  being  erected  for  firing 
within  the  yard,  that  they  fled  with  great  precipitation, 
leaving  behind  their  packs  and  provisions.  June  16,  1748, 
while  crossing  from  Colonel  Hinsdale's  to  Fort  Dummer, 
three  persons  —  Nathan  French,  Joseph  Richardson,  and 
John  Frost  —  were  killed,  and  seven  others  were  captured, 
one  of  whom  soon  afterwards  died  of  his  woimds.  In 
1755  they  attacked  a  party  at  work  in  the  woods,  killed 
two  persons,  and  took  Jonathan  Colby  prisoner.  In  July 
of  the  same  year  they  killed  in  ambush  Caleb  Howe,  Hil- 
kiah  Grout,  and  Benjamin  Gaffield,  as  they  were  returning 
from  labor  in  the  field.  The  Congregational  church  was 
organized  here  in  1763.  The  Ikptist  church  was  formed 
in  1808.  There  are  at  this  time  two  churches,  in  addition  to 
those  already  mentioned  —  namely,  one  Methodist  and  one 
Universalist.     There  are  also  two  hotels,  four  stores,  with 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  245 

an  aggregate  capital  of  $12,200;  two  woollen  factories, 
both  of  which  manufacture  cashmeretts,  one  employing  45 
hands,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  the  other  employing  17 
hands,  with  a  capital  of  $20,000 ;  two  machine  shops, 
with  an  aggregate  capital  of  $22,000 ;  number  of  hands 
employed  in  both,  23  ;  one  paper  mill,  capital,  $20,000, 
number  of  hands  employed,  12  ;  one  foundery,  capital, 
$4000,  number  of  hands  employed,  5  ;  one  tannery,  capi- 
tal, $8000,  number  of  hands,  5 ;  one  edge  tool  manufac- 
tory, capital,  $10,000,  number  of  hands,  15  ;  one  bobbin 
and  spool  factory,  capital,  $5000,  number  of  hands,  9 ; 
one  pail  factory,  capital,  $6000,  number  of  hands,  10  ; 
one  door,  sash,  and  blind  factory,  capital,  $6000,  number 
of  hands,  10. 

Population,  1903.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  292. 
Inventory,  $432,202.  Value  of  lands,  $263,587.  Stock 
in  trade,  $14,500.  Number  of  sheep,  289.  Do.  neat 
stock,  671.     Do.  horses  and  mules,  155. 

HoLDERNESS,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Camp- 
ton,  east  by  Sandwich,  IMoultonborough,  and  Centre  Har- 
bor, south  by  Centre  Harbor  and  New  Hampton,  and  west 
by  Bridgewater  and  Plymouth.  Area,  24,921  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  40  miles,  north  by  Boston,  Concord, 
and  Montreal  Railroad ;  from  Plymouth,  6,  east.  The 
soil  is  hard,  and  hot  easily  tilled,  but,  when  carefully  cul- 
tivated, produces  tolerably  well.  The  Pemigewasset  and 
Squam  Rivers  run  through  this  town,  and  afford  several 
good  water  privileges.  A  portion  of  Squam  Lake  lies 
along  its  southeasterly  borders.  Squam  Pond,  lying  wholly 
in  Holderness,  is  two  miles  long  and  half  a  mile  wide. 
There  are  several  large  paper  and  straw  board  manufacto- 
ries in  this  town  ;  also  a  woollen  factory.  The  route  from 
21* 


246  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Plymouth  through  this  place  to  Centre  Harbor  is  delight- 
ful, affording  views  wild,  romantic,  and  beautiful. 

IJolderness  was  first  granted,  October  10,  1751,  to  John 
Shepard  and  others  ;  but  the  conditions  of  the  charter  not 
being  complied  with  by  the  grantees,  it  was  forfeited.  It 
was  regranted,  October  2-1,  1761,  to  John  Wentworth  and 
67  others.  The  first  settlement  was  made,  in  1763,  by 
William  Piper.  An  Episcopal  church  was  established 
here  about  1770  There  is  also  a  Freewill  Baptist  and  a 
Methodist  society  here.  Hon.  Samuel  Livermore  settled 
in  this  town  in  1765.  He  was  one  of  the  grantees,  and, 
by  purchase,  became  proprietor  of  about  one  half  of  the 
township.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College ;  in 
1769  was  appointed  the  king's  attorney  general;  was  a 
delegate  to  the  old  Congress ;  in  1782  was  appointed  chief 
justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  New  Hampshire ;  and 
fi:om  1792  to  1802  he  was  United  States  senator. 

Population,  1744.  Number  of  polls,  404.  Inventory, 
$444,258.  Value  of  lands,  $257,866.  Stock  in  trade, 
$6860.  Value  of  mills,  &c.,  $15,500.  Number  of  sheep, 
1321.     Do.  neat  stock,  1530.     Do.  horses,  242. 

HoLLis,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Mil- 
ford,  Amherst,  and  Merrimack,  east  by  Merrimack  and 
Nashua,  south  by  Dunstable  and  Pepperell,  Massachusetts, 
and  west  by  Brookline.  Area,  19,620  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  36  miles,  south ;  from  Amherst,  8,  south. 
Nashua  River  waters  the  south-east  part,  and  the  Nisitissit 
crosses  the  south-western  extremity.  Here  are  four  ponds 
and  several  small  streams.  The  soil  is  various.  On  the 
Nashua  are  some  excellent  tracts  of  interval.  The  uplands 
are  moderately  fertile.  Near  the  centre  of  the  town,  on  a 
somewhat  elevated  site,  is  a  pleasant  and  thriving  village. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  247 

There  are  two  meeting  houses  —  one  belonging  to  the 
Congregational  society,  and  one  to  the  Baptist.  There  are 
also  two  stores,  four  carpenters'  shops,  cloven  saw  and 
gristmills,  five  blacksmiths'  shops,  three  wheelwrights, 
and  sixteen  coopers'  shops.  The  original  name  of  Hollis 
was  Nisitissit ;  it  was  afterwards  called  the  West  Parish  of 
Dunstable.  The  first  settlement  was  made,  in  1731,  by 
Peter  Powers.  His  son,  Peter  Powers,  was  the  first  child 
born  in  town.  This  town  was  incoi-porated  April  3,  1746. 
It  received  its  name  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  whose 
name  was  Hollis.  The  Congregational  church  was  organ- 
ized in  1743. 

Population,  1293.  Number  of  polls,  330.  Inventory, 
$597,993.  Value  of  lands,  $370,432.  Stock  in  trade, 
$7118.  Number  of  sheep,  320.  Do.  neat  stock,  1304. 
Do.  horses,  219. 

HooKSETT,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Bow, 
Pembroke,  and  AUenstown,  east  by  Candia  and  Auburn, 
south  by  Manchester  and  Goffstown,  and  west  by  GofFstown, 
Dunbarton,  and  Bow.  Distance  from  Concord,  9  miles, 
south.  It  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Merrimack 
River.  Near  the  centre  of  the  town  are  the  falls  known 
by  the  name  of  Isle  of  Hooksett  Falls.  The  descent  of  the 
water  here  is  16  feet  in  a  distance  of  30  rods.  Prom  Pin- 
nacle ISlountain,  an  eminence  a  short  distance  westerly,  the 
view  of  the  river  above  and  below  the  fiills,  the  cultivated 
fields,  and  far-off  hills  furnish  a  view  truly  picturesque. 
The  surface  is  diversified'with  hill  and  valley.  The  soil 
is  not  generally  of  the  most  fertile  character,  though  there 
are  some  excellent  farms.  Pinnacle  Mountain  consists  of 
an  immense  mass  of  broken  rocks,  rising  abruptly  to  the 
height  of  200  feet  from  its  base,  covered  with  scattering 


^8  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

trees  and  bushes.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  on  its 
western  side,  is  a  beautiful  pond  of  water,  of  a  bright- 
greenish  tinge,  remarkably  clear,  and  of  great  depth.  It 
has  no  visible  outlet,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  bed 
of  the  mountain,  from  which  the  latter,  by  some  violent 
convulsion  of  Nature,  was  upturned.  Fine  specimens  of 
lead  and  silver  ore  have  recently  been  discovered  here.  A 
company  has  recently  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
working  the  mines,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  success.  Hook- 
sett  is  noted  for  its  numerous  beds  of  valuable  brick  clay. 
There  are  seven  brickmaking  establishments  here  in  vigor- 
ous operation ;  about  125  hands  are  employed,  and  several 
million  of  bricks  are  annually  made.  There  are  in  this 
town  two  meeting  houses,  —  one  belonging  to  the  Congre- 
gational, and  the  other  to  the  Methodist  society,  —  two 
hotels,  four  stores,  and  one  large  cotton  factory,  in  which 
170  hands  are  employed,  which  is  the  property  of  the 
Amoskeag  Company  at  Manchester.  It  was  taken  from 
Chester,  Goffstown,  and  Dunbarton,  and  incorporated  July 
3,  1822. 

Population  in  1854,  about  1600.  Legal  voters,  300. 
Number  of  school  houses,  9.  Inventory,  $483,117. 
Value  of  lands,  $287,084.  Do.  mills,  factories,  &c., 
$49,900.  Stock  in  trade,  .$36,780.  Number  of  sheep, 
342.     Do.  neat  stock,  529.     Do.  horses,  151. 

HoPKiNTON,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Warner  and  Boscawcn,  east  by  Concord,  south  by  Bow, 
Dunbarton,  and  Weare,  and  w*est  by  Henniker.  Area, 
26,967  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  7  miles,  west. 
Contoocook  River  winds  through' this  town  in  a  north-east- 
erly direction,  and  falls  into  the  Merrimack  in  Concord, 
in   its    course  it  receives    the  waters  of  Blackwater  and 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  249 

Warner  Rivers,  besides  several  small  streams.  The  inter- 
val and  meadow  lands  along  these  streams  are  valuable  on 
account  of  their  fertility.  The  village  is  pleasantly  situated 
on  a  gentle  eminence,  about  seven  miles  from  the  State 
House  in  Concord.  This  is  a  good  agricultural  town,  and 
is  somewhat  noted  for  its  delicious  fruit.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  lumber  are  manufactured  here,  and  transported  on 
the  railroads  to  various  markets.  There  are  six  religious 
societies  —  one  Episcopal,  one  Congregational,  one  Bap- 
tist, one  Freewill  Baptist,  one  Univcrsalist,  and  one  New 
Jerusalem,  or  Swedcnborgian  ;  nine  stores ;  one  woollen 
factory,  with  a  capital  of  $7000,  and  employing  twelve 
hands ;  one  tannery  and  curriers'  shop,  with  a  capital  of 
$6000 ;  and  nine  sawmills.  Contoocookville,  the  junction 
of  the  Merrimack  and  Connecticut  River  Railroad  and  the 
Contoocook  Valley  Railroad,  is  an  active  and  thriving  vil- 
lage. Hopkinton  was  granted  by  ISIassachusetts,  January 
16,  1735,  to  John  Jones  and  others,  and  was  called  Num- 
ber Five,  afterwards  New  Hopkinton.  The  first  settlement 
was  in  1740.  When  the  French  and  Indian  war  broke 
out  the  inhabitants  were  compelled  to  leave,  and  did  not 
return  until  the  war  had  closed.  The  inhabitants  suffered 
considerably  from  Indian  depredations.  On  the  22d  of 
April,  174G,  six  Indians  broke  into  a  garrison  and  took 
eight  persons  while  in  their  beds,  and  hurried  them  away. 
On  the  loth  of  April,  1753,  while  Abraham  Kimball,  the 
first  male  child  born  in  town,  was  going  from  Kimball's 
Garrison  to  Putney's,  he  was  seized  by  the  Indians,  who 
took  at  the  same  time  Samuel  Putney.  On  the  third  day 
after  the  capture,  while  the  Indians  were  on  the  hills  west 
of  Boscawen  plains,  they  were  so  unexpectedly  attacked 
by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boscawen  that  they  fled, 
leaving  Putney  behind.    Kimball  escaped  by  the  help  of  a 


250    .  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

dog,  which  seized  an  Indian  while  in  the  act  of  drawing 
his  tomahawk  to  kill  him.  In  1756  Henry  IMiller  and 
others  received  a  grant  of  Ilopkinton,  which  was  the  occa- 
sion of  long  and  bitter  disputes.  The  difficulties  were, 
however,  settled  by  an  act  of  incorporation  granted  Janu- 
arv  11,  1765.  The  Congregational  society  was  organized 
November  23,  1757.  The  Baptist  society  was  formed 
May  8,  1771.  The  Episcopal  society  was  established, 
under  the  name  of  Christ's  Church,  in  1803. 

Population,  2169.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
594.  Inventory,  $532,505.  Value  of  lands,  $402,2 li. 
Stock  in  trade,  $8205.  Value  of  mills,  &c.,  $9070. 
Number  of  sheep,  2657.  Do.  neat  stock,  2103.  Do. 
horses,  332. 

Hudson,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Litch- 
field and  Londonderry,  east  by  Windham  and  Pelham, 
south  by  Tyngsborough,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by 
Nashua.  Area,  17,379  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
38  miles,  south  ;  from  Amherst,  17,  south-east.  The  land 
is  of  easy  culture,  consisting  of  a  rich  sandy  loam.  On 
the  river  are  large  intervals  of  a  deep  and  fertile  soil. 
Distant  from  the  river  the  surface  is  hilly  and  uneven. 
There  are  two  ponds,  —  the  Little  Massabesick  and  Otter- 
nick,  — both  covering  about  300  acres.  There  are  three 
religious  societies — the  Congregational,  established  No- 
vember 30,  1737;  the  Baptist,  formed  in  1805;  and  a 
Methodist.  There  are  two  saw  and  two  gristmills,  one 
store,  two  blacksmiths'  shops,  and  one  plane  manufactory. 
This  town  was  included  in  the  grant  of  Dunstable,  now 
Nashua,  and  was  settled  in  1710.  It  was  incorporated  as 
a  separate  town,  July  5,  1746,  under  the  name  of  Not- 
tingham West,  which  it   retained   until    1830.     The  first 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

settlements  were  made  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  where 
the  Indians  had  made  cleai'ings  for  the  cultivation  of  corn. 
The  first  inhabitants  lived  in  garrisons.  A  few  Indians 
lingered  in  the  vicinity  for  a  short  time  after  the  settlements 
began,  and,  in  times  of  peace,  jnade  frequent  visits  here, 
representing  that  it  was  once  a  favorite  resort  to  them  and 
their  ancestors.  Near  the  old  Indian  cornfields  have  been 
found  cinders  like  those  produced  in  blacksmiths'  Avork. 

Population,  1312.  Number  of  polls,  269.  Houses, 
238.  Families,  284.  Farms,  153.  Inventory,  $437,060. 
Value  of  lands,  .$280,043.  Stock  in  trade,  $6104.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  333.     Do.  neat  stock,  973.     Do.  horses,  176. 

Jackson,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  and  Avest  by 
Pinkham's  Grant,  east  by  Chatham,  and  south  by  Bartlett. 
Area,  about  31,908  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  90 
miles,  north.  The  surface  is  uneven  and  rocky ;  the  soil 
generally  rich  and  productive.  Ellis  River  is  the  most 
important  stream.  There  are  several  brooks  and  rivulets 
in  various  parts  of  the  town.  The  principal  elevations  are 
Double  Head,  Thorn,  Bleak,  and  Baldface  Mountains. 
The  latter  is  situated  on  the  line  between  this  town  and 
Bartlett.  On  this  mountain  iron  ore,  of  a  quality  une- 
qualled in  this  country,  exists  in  inexhaustible  quantities. 
Veins  of  tin  ore,  of  rich  quality,  and  apparently  of  con- 
siderable extent,  were  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson,  state 
geologist,  on  the  same  mountain.  This  is  considered  as 
the  first  vein  of  this  kind  of  metal  that  has  been  discovered 
in  the  United  States.  The  ore  yields  from  30  to  50  per 
cent,  of  pure  tin.  Arsenical  pyrites  are  found  in  several 
localities.  Limestone  is  abundant.  Agriculture  is  the 
chief  employment.  There  is  a  small  fund,  the  interest  of 
which,  amounting  to  $400,  is  appropriated  in  equal  per- 


262  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

tions  for  the  support  of  the  gospel  and  common  schools. 
There  are  two  meeting  houses,  two  stores,  and  one  tavern. 
A  Freewill  Baptist  society  was  formed  here  in  1803.  This 
town  was  first  settled,  in  1779,  by  Benjamin  Copp,  who, 
with  his  family,  endured  the  solitude  of  the  Avilderness  14 
years  before  any  other  person  settled  here.  It  was  incor- 
porated, December  4,  1800,  under  the  name  of  Adams.  At 
the  request  of  the  inhabitants,  its  name  was  changed  to 
Jackson  in  1828. 

Population  in  1854,  about  600.  Inventory,  $112,888. 
Value  of  lands,  $40,778.  Stock  in  trade,  $700.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  885.  Do.  neat  stock,  771,  Do.  horses,  81. 
Number  of  polls,  119. 

Jaffrey,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dublin, 
east  by  Peterborough  and  Sharon,  south  by  Rindge  and 
Fitzwilliam,  and  west  by  Troy  and  Marlborough.  Area, 
25,600  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  46  miles,  south-west ; 
from  Keenc,  15,  south-east.  Monadnock  Mountain  lies  most- 
ly in  this  town.  Near  the  summit,  which  is  about  300  feet 
above  its  base,  only  a  few  dwarfish  shrubs  grow  in  the  crevices 
of  the  rocks.  Its  sides  are  covered  with  blueberry,  which  af- 
ford an  abundance  of  delicious  fruit.  There  are  several  caves 
in  various  parts  of  this  mountain,  which  seem  to  have  been 
formed  by  large  fissures  made  by  extensive  strata  thrown 
from  their  primitive  position.  Several  streams  issue  from 
its  sides,  the  largest  of  which  rises  about  100  rods  from  its 
summit,  and  forms  the  principal  source  of  the  Contoocook 
River.  About  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  mountain,  in 
a  south-easterly  direction,  is  Monadnock  Mineral  Spring ; 
the  waters  are  slightly  impregnated  with  carbonate  of  iron 
and  sulphuret  of  soda.  Where  it  issues  from  the  earth, 
yellow  ochre  collects  in  considerable  quantities.     So  even 


1 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  25$ 

is  the  temperature  of  the  water  that  it  has  never  been  seen 
frozen  over.     It  is  not  affected  by  drought  or  heavy  rains. 

There  are  four  meeting  houses — two  Congregational, 
one  Baptist,  and  one  UniversaHst ;  one  academy,  with  a 
small  fund,  the  interest  of  which  is  applied  to  the  purchase 
of  apparatus ;  four  stores ;  one  hotel ;  five  saw  and  three 
gristmills ;  two  cotton  factories,  capital  ^20,000,  number 
of  hands  employed  80 ;  A.  Bascom  &  Co.  proprietors ; 
one  carding  machine ;  two  wooden  ware  shops,  employing 
10  hands ;  and  two  tanneries.  The  Monadnock  Bank  has  a 
capital  of  $50,000.  The  proprietors  of  the  Mason  title 
granted  this  town,  in  1749,  to  40  persons.  The  first  set- 
tlement was  made,  in  1758,  by  one  Grout  and  John  Davi- 
son. It  was  uicorporated  in  1773,  and  received  its  name 
from  George  Jaffrey,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth.  Its  former 
name  was  Middle  Monadnock,  or  Number  Two.  The 
Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1780. 

Population,  1497.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
330.  Do.  common  schools,  13.  Inventory,  $574,542. 
Value  of  lands,  $325,304.  Stock  in  trade,  $8094.  Value 
of  mills,  factories,  i&c,  $22,738.  Number  of  sheep,  1349. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1514.     Do.  horses,  254. 

Jefferson,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lancaster, 
east  by  Kilkenny,  south  by  White  Mountain  region  and 
Carroll,  and  west  by  Whitefield.  Area,  26,076  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  98  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster, 
10,  south-east.  The  surface  is  rough  and  uneven.  On 
the  south-west  side  of  Pliny  Mountain  are  several  excellent 
farms  of  a  rich  and  productive  soil,  which  command  an 
extensive  and  beautiful  view  of  the  White  Mountains.  At 
its  base  is  fine  grazing  and  tillage  land.  The  western  por- 
tion of  the  town  is  low,  wet,  and  cold.    Cherry  and  Safety 


f^. 


254  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Ponds  are  the  largest  bodies  of  water.  Israel's  River  is 
the  only  stream  of  note.  There  are  two  stores,  two  meet- 
ing houses,  —  one  Baptist  and  one  Methodist,  —  two  starch 
mills,  and  eight  common  schools.  It  was  granted,  under 
the  name  of  Dartmouth,  October  3,  1765,  to  Colonel  John 
GofFe,  and  regranted,  June  26,  1772,  to  March  H.  Went- 
worth  and  others.  It  was  first  settled  by  Colonel  Joseph 
"Whipple,  Samuel  Hart,  and  others,  about  1773.  It  was 
incorporated  December  8,  1796.  During  the  war  of  the 
revolution  Colonel  Whipple  was  captured  here  in  his 
house  by  a  party  of  Indians,  headed  by  a  white  man.  By 
stratagem  he  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  The  party 
plundered  the  house  and  retired. 

Population,  629.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 170. 
Inventory,  $131,672.  Value  of  lands,  .$54,410.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  662.  Do.  neat  stock,  680.  Do.  horses, 
128. 

Keene,  shire  town  of  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Westmoreland,  Surrey,  and  Gilsum,  east  by  Sullivan 
and  Roxbury,  south  by  Swanzey,  and  west  by  Chesterfield 
and  Westmoreland.  Area,  about  22,040  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  55  miles,  south-west.  The  surface  is  gen- 
erally level  or  moderately  swelling.  The  soil  consists  of 
three  varieties  —  viz.,  interval,  light,  sandy  plain,  and  up- 
land. The  latter  includes  the  outskirts  of  the  town, 
bovmdlng  on  the  east,  west,  and  north ;  the  flat,  or  valley, 
consisting  of  the  first  and  second  varieties.  The  valley  is 
separated  into  two  nearly  equal  portions  by  the  Ashuelot 
River,  and  from  the  unusual  extent  of  level  surface  which 
it  presents,  variegated  by  cultivation,  affords  a  pleasing 
prospect  to  the  traveller.  The  Ashuelot  River  has  its 
source  in  a  pond  in  Washington. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  256 

Keene  is  pronounced  by  Dr.  Dwight.  in  his  travels,  one 
of  the  pleasantest  inland  towns  he  had  ever  visited.  The 
principal  village  is  s^ituated  on  an  extensive  plain,  about 
midway  from  the  Ashuelot  on  the  west,  and  the  uplands 
on  the  east.  The  width  and  uniform  level  of  its  streets, 
the  beautiful  shade  trees,  behind  which  many  splendid 
residences  and  beautiful  gardens  are  seen,  its  large  and 
well-constructed  hotels,  its  handsome  stores,  and  general 
thrifty  appearance  render  it  both  pleasant  and  attractive. 
The  main  street  extends  one  mile  in  length  in  a  straight 
line,  and  is  of  uniform  width,  and  almost  a  perfect  level. 
Keene  is  a  place  of  large  business.  Its  facilities  for  trade, 
owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  its  location  in  relation  to  the 
adjacent  toM-ns,  are  numerous,  and  secure  to  its  mercantile 
interests  valuable  advantages.  What  can  be  said  of  but 
few  country  villages  may  with  truth  be  said  of  this  —  viz., 
that  its  business  has  been  directly  benefited  and  perma- 
nently increased  by  the  railroad  enterprise. 

There  are  three  large  and  commodious  hotels.  The 
Cheshire  House  is  a  noble  structure,  its  rooms  airy  and 
convenient,  and  the  internal  arrangements  are  in  full 
keeping  Avith  the  inviting  appearance  of  its  external  form. 
The  Emerald  House  and  the  Eagle  are  pleasant  hotels, 
and  each  affords  a  comfortable  home  for  the  traveller. 
The  Town  Hall  is  a  large  and  handsome  edifice  of  impos- 
ing structure.  The  office  of  the  Ashuelot  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  is  in  this  village. 

Manufactories.  —  A.  Davis  &  Co.,  iron  foundery.  Cap- 
ital, $6000.  Business  per  iinnum,  $10,000.  Employ  12 
hands.  '* 

J.  M.  Reed,  manufacturer  of  patent  jack  screws  and 
boot  forms.  The  screw  is  used  for  raising  buildings  and 
other  heavy  burdens.     One   turn  of  this   screw  performs 


S56  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS, 

the  same  amount  of  labor  that  two  will  in  others.  Capital, 
12000.     Hands  employed,  10. 

Falkner  &  Colony,  manufacturers  of  flannels.  Capital 
iiivested,  $50,000.  Employ  40  hands.  $100,000  worth 
are  manufactured  per  annum ;  also  $6000  worth  of  lum- 
ber. 

William  S.  Briggs  (successor  to  Eliphalet  Briggs,  who 
carried  on  the  business  of  cabinet  making  for  40  years) 
manufactures  all  kinds  of  cabinet  M'ork.  ' 

S.  D.  Osbum  also  manufactures  cabinet  work. 

The  Cheshire  Railroad  Company  have  a  large  repair 
shop  here,  where  about  25  hands  are  employed. 

There  is  in  operation  a  large  sash  and  blind  manufac- 
tory, driven  by  a  25  horse  power  engine. 

Foster  &  Felt,  manufacturers  of  organs,  jEolian  sera- 
phines,  Woodward  &  Brown's  piano  fortes,  &c.,  employ 
from  8  to  12  hands. 

H.  Pond  &  Co.,  hat  and  cap  manufacturers,  employ  12 
hands,  have  several  branch  stores  in  this  and  adjoining 
states,  and  are  doing  an  extensive  business. 

There  are  two  large  establishments  for  the  manufacture 
of  clothing. 

South  Keene.  —  J.  A.  Fay  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of 
planing,  mortising,  tenanting,  sash,  sticking,  moulding, 
and  various  other  machines ;  also  an  iron  foundery  con- 
nected. Amount  of  capital,  $40,000.  Amount  of  busi- 
ness, $50,000.  Number  of  hands  employed,  50.  Build- 
ing, 160  by  40  feet,  wood,  two  stories  high,  with  an  ell,  55 
by  30  feet,  two  stories  high,  separate  from  the  same,  and  a 
forge  shop  and  iron  foundery  building. 

There  are  two  banks  —  the  Ashuclot,  with  a  capital  of 
$100,000  ;  and  the  Cheshire  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $100,- 
000.     Also  one  Savings  Bank. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  257 

There  arc  four  meeting  houses  —  one  Congregational, 
one  Unitariarf,  one  "Baptist,  and  one  Methodist.  The 
Congregational  church  was  organized  October  18;,  1738. 
Since  that  time  it  has  had  only  six  different  ministers. 
The  present  pastor,  lie  v.  Zedekiah  S.  Barstow,  D.  D.,  was 
ordained  July  1,  1818.  The  Baptist  church  was  formed 
in  1816,  with  Rev.  Ferris  Moore  as  pastor.  The  Uni- 
tarian church  was  organized  on  the  18tli  of  March,  1824. 
This  town  is  divided  into  14  school  districts.  Number* 
1,  2,  10,  and  the  centre  districts  have  united  under  the 
Somersworth  Act,  which  provides  for  a  graduated  system, 
by  which  the  pupil  ascends  from  the  simplest  rudiments  to 
those  higher  branches  usually  taught  in  academies.  For 
an  historical  account  of  the  newspapers  published  in  this 
town  the  reader  is  referred  to  another  part  of  this  volume, 
under  the  appropriate  head.  Keene  was  originally  granted 
by  Massachusetts.  Its  first  settlement  began  about  the 
year  1734,  by  Jeremiah  Hall,  Elisha  Root,  Nathaniel 
Rockwood,  Setli  Heaton,  Josiah  Fisher,  Nathan  Blake,  and 
others.  Its  original  name  was  Upper  Ashuelot.  It  was 
incorporated  under  its  present  name  April  11,  1753.  The 
name  was  given  in  honor  of  an  English  nobleman,  Sir 
Benjamin  Keene.  In  1736  a  meeting,  house  was  erected, 
and  two  years  later  a  minister  was  settled. 

Like  all  other  frontier  settlements,  it  received  its  full  share 
of  Indian  depredations  and  cruelty.  In  1745  the  Indians 
killed  Josiah  Fisher,  a  deacon  of  the  church ;  and  in  the 
year  following  they  attacked  the  fort,  the  only  safe  retreat 
of  the  inhabitants.  They  were  discovered  by  Captain 
Ephraim  Dormau  just  in  time  to  prevent  their  taking  it. 
He  was  attacked  by  two  Indians,  but  boldly  defended  him- 
self against  them,  and  reached  the  fort  in  safety.  A  furious 
assault  followed,  in  v^^hich  John  Bullard  was  killed.  A 
22* 


26S  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

woman  named  McKenny,  being  out  of  the  fort,  was  brutal- 
ly stabbed,  from  the  effects  of  which  "she  soon  died.  Na- 
than Blake  was  captured  and  taken  to  Canada.  He 
remained  in  confinement  two  years.  The  Indians  burned 
all  the  buildings  in  the  settlement,  including  the  meeting 
house.  The  inhabitants  continued  in  the  fort  until  April, 
1747,  when  they  abandoned  the  place.  In  1753  they  re- 
turned and  recommenced  their  settlements.  In  June, 
1755,  the  Indians  again  attacked  the  fort  in  great  numbers. 
The  onset  was  furious,  accompanied  by  screams  and  terrific 
yells.  By  the  vigilance  and  bravery  of  Captain  Syms,  they 
were  repulsed.  After  burning  several  buildings,  killing  a 
large  number  of  cattle,  and  committing  other  depredations, 
they  departed.  In  July  they  returned  and  made  another 
violent  attack  upon  the  fort,  but  with  as  little  success  as 
before. 

Colonel  Isaac  Wyman,  an  influential  man  and  a  brave 
soldier,  led  the  first  detachment  of  men  from  this  town  in 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  was  present  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  (Breed's)  Hill.  This  company  consisted  of  30 
men.  The  list  of  the  foot  company  in  Keene  at  this  time 
numbered  126  men,  the  alarm  list  45. 

This  town  is  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  DInsmoor, 
who  was  governor  of  New  Hampshire  during  a  term  of 
three  years  ending  June,  1852,  and  was  deservedly  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  among  all  parties  who  have  ever 
filled  that  high  office. 

Keene  is  connected  by  the  Cheshire  liailroad  with 
Groton  Junction  and  Boston,  and  by  the  Ashuelot  Railroad 
with  Springfield,  Massachusetts. 

Population,  3392.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
767.  Inventory,  $1,562,228.  Value  of  lands,  $809,598. 
Stock   in   trade,  $77,400.     Value   of  mills   and   factories. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  259 

$26,400.  Money  on  deposit  or  at  interest,  $186,697. 
Value  of  shares  in  banks  and  other  corporations,  $224,100. 
Number  of  sheep,  1520.  Do.  neat  stock,  1512.  Do. 
horses,  370. 

Kensington,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Exeter,  east  by  Hampton  Falls  and  Seabrook,  south  by 
South  Hampton,  and  west  by  East  Kingston.  Area,  7045 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  south-east ;  from 
Exeter,  6,  south.  The  surface  is  generally  even.  There 
is  no  stream  worthy  of  note,  and  but  one  small  pond, 
called  Muddy  Fond,  from  the  turbid  appearance  of  its 
waters.  The  soil  is  moderately  good.  There  are  two  stores, 
one  small  tannery,  and  one  boot  and  shoe  establishment, 
where  25  hands  are  employed.  There  are  two  meeting 
houses  —  one  belonging  to  the  Universalist  society  and  one 
to  the  Christian  Baptist.  A  Congregational  church  was 
established  here  in  1737.  This  town  was  settled  at  a  veiy 
early  period,  and  was  originally  a  part  of  Hampton,  from 
which  it  was  detached  and  incorporated  April  1,  1737. 
It  contained  more  inhabitants  at  the  commencement  of  the 
revolution  than  at  present. 

Population,  700.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  166. 
Inventory,  $255,027.  Value  of  lands,  $134,200.  Stock 
in  trade,  $2000.  Number  of  sheep,  385.  Do.  neat  stock, 
800.     Do.  horses,  106. 

Kilkenny,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Stark, 
east  by  Milan,  Berlin,  and  Randolph,  south  by  ungranted 
lands  and  White  Mountain  territory,  and  west  by  Jefferson 
and  Lancaster.  Area,  15,906  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 120  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster,  15,  north-east. 
This  is  a  poor  township  —  rough,  rocky,  cold,  and  sterile. 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Along  the  southern  border  of  the  town  is  a  narrow  strip  of 
land  which  is  productive  and  easily  cultivated.  Pilot  and 
Willard's  Mountains  include  a  large  portion  of  the  terri- 
tory of  this  town.  These  eminences  are  so  called  from 
the  fact  that  a  man  named  Willard  was  lost  while  hunting, 
and  his  dog  Pilot,  which  he  observed  left  each  day,  and,  as 
he  supposed,  in  pursuit  of  game;  but,  being  nearly  ex- 
hausted with  hunger  and  fatigue,  he  determined  to  follow 
his  dog  at  his  next  departure,  and  was  conducted  by  his 
faithful  companion  in  safety  to  his  camp.  This  town  was 
granted,  June  4,  1774,  to  Jonathan  Warner  and  others. 
Population,  19. 

Kingston,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Brentwood,  east  by  East  Kingston,  south  by  Newton  and 
Plaistow,  and  west  by  Hampstead  and  Danville.  Area, 
12,188  acres,  800  of  which  are  covered  with  water.  There 
are  several  ponds  in  this  town,  the  largest  of  which  is 
Great  Pond,  whicli  covers  about  300  acres.  Near  the 
centre  of  the  town  is  a  large  plain,  on  which  is  situated 
the  principal  village.  The  soil  is  generally  a  loam,  resting 
on  a  bed  of  sand,  or  coarse  gravel.  In  some  parts  the 
soil  is  clayey.  The  plain  land  is  rich  and  very  fertile. 
The  rocks  are  mostly  gneiss  and  mica  slate,  intersected  by 
trap  dikes,  containing  carbonate  of  lime.  Moulding  sand 
of  a  very  fine  quality  is  found  here. 

There  are  three  meeting  houses,- — one  Congregational, 
one  Methodist,  and  one  Baptist,  ■ —  two  hotels,  four  stores, 
four  carriage  factories,  and  one  large  tannery.  The  inhab- 
itants are  mostly  engaged  in  agric\ilture. 

The  charter  of  Kingston  was  granted,  August  6,  1694, 
by  Lieutenant  Governor  Uslier,  to  James  Prescott,  Ebene- 
zer  Webster,  and  others,  from  Hampton.     It  included  East 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  261 

Kingston,  Danville,  and  Sandown.  Soon  as  the  grant  wgp,»'' 
obtained  the  proprietors  erected  garrisons  and  began  to 
cultivate  the  lands.  They  were,  however,  discouraged  by 
the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  Indian  hostilities.  In  1707 
Stephen  and  Joel  Gilinan  were  ambushed  between  Exeter 
and  Kingston,  but  fortunately  escaped.  In  1712  Stephen 
Oilman  and  Ebenezer  Stevens  were  wounded,  and  the 
former  taken  and  put  to  death.  In  September,  1724, 
Jabez  Colman  and  son  were  killed  while  at  work  in  the 
field.  Four  children  were  taken  at  the  same  time ;  one 
escaped,  the  others  were  afterwards  redeemed.  Ancient 
French  coins,  Indian  implements,  such  as  jasper  and  quartz 
arrow  heads,  axes,  gouges,  and  hammers  of  various  kinds 
have  been  ploughed  up  in  the  vicinity  of  the  ponds. 

The  Congregational  society  was  organized  about  1725. 

Distance  from  Concord,  38  miles,  south-east;  and  6, 
south,  from  the  Kailroad  Depot  in  Exeter. 

Population,  1192.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
SOO.  Inventory,  $401,208.  Value  of  lands,  |252,622. 
Stock  in  trade,  $7350.  Number  of  sheep,  346.  Do.  neat 
stock,  682.     Do.  horses,  135. 

Lancaster,  shire  town  of  Coos  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Northumberland,  east  by  Kilkenny,  south  by  Jefferson, 
Whitefield,  and  Dalton,  and  west  by  Guildhall,  Vermont. 
Area,  about  23,480  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  116 
miles,  north.  The  Connecticut  River,  which  is  very  deep 
and  about  22  rods  in  width  at  this  place,  washes  its  north- 
eastern border  for  a  distance  of  10  miles.  Israel's  River 
flows  through  the  centre  in  a  north-westerly  direction. 
There  are  also  several  small  streams,  which  abound  with 
trout.  There  are  several  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  is 
Martin  Meadow  Pond,  named  from  one  Martin,  a  hunter. 


i86£  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

'There  are  numerous  mountains  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Lancaster  ;  but  it  is  not  itself  mountainous  excepting  in 
the  south-east  part,  where  the  surface  is  hilly  and  unfit  for 
cultivation.  The  soil  along  the  Connecticut  is  alluvial ; 
the  meadows  extend  back  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  mile, 
and  at  the  mouth  of  Israel's  River  much  farther.  The 
meadows  are  bordered  by  pine  lands,  varying  in  width, 
which  are  easily  cultivated,  and  are  highly  productive 
when  properly  tilled.  Limestone  is  found  here.  The  soil 
is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  wheat  and  the 
other  small  cereal  grains,  which  are  produced  in  great 
abundance. 

The  village  contains  three  meeting  houses ;  the  Court 
House,  Jail,  and  other  county  buildings ;  one  academy ; 
seven  stores ;  two  hotels ;  and  two  carriage  manufactories, 
with  a  capital  of  ,^15,000  each.  The  amount  of  school 
fund  is  $600.  This  is  a  remarkably  healthy  as  well  as 
pleasant  location.  Lancaster,  with  several  other  towns  in 
this  state  and  Vermont,  were  formerly  designated  by  the 
name  .of  Coos  —  an  Indian  name,  signifying  crooked.  It 
was  granted,  July  15,  1763,  to  Captain  David  Page  and 
others.  He,  with  his  family,  Edward  Buckman,  and  Em- 
mons Stockwell,  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year.  The  war  of  the  revolution  impeded  the 
progress  of  the  settlement.  Every  person  but  Stockwell 
left  the  new  town  and  fled  for  safety  to  the  older  settle- 
ments ;  he  resolutely  determined  to  stay  and  abide  the 
consequences,  and  by  his  example  induced  others  to 
return.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in 
July,  1794.  There  is  also  a  Methodist  and  a  Unitarian 
society  here.  The  Lancaster  Bank  has  a  capital  of  $50,000. 
The  Coos  County  Democrat,  a  weekly  newspaper,  is  pub- 
lished here.     From  its  first  settlement  to  the  present  time. 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  268 

Lancaster  has   been   advancing   with   healthy  progress   in 
wealth  and  population. 

Population,  1559.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
320.  Inventory,  $408,521.  Value  of  lands,  $242,053. 
Stock  in  trade,  $14,438.  Money  at  interest  or  on  deposit, 
$17,800.  Number  of  sheep,  2843.  Do.  neat  stock,  1543. 
Do.  horses,  328. 

Landaff,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lisbon 
and  Franconia,  east  by  Lincoln,  south  by  Benton,  and  west 
by  Bath.  Area,  29,200  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
90  miles,  north-west.  Wild  Ammonoosuc  runs  through  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  and  the  Great  Ammonoosuc  through 
the  north-easterly  extremity.  Landaff  Mountain  in  the 
east  part,  Cobble  Hill  in  the  centre,  and  Bald  Hill  in  the 
west  are  the  principal  elevations.  The  soil  in  some  por- 
tions of  the  town  is  very  fertile.  In  Cobble  Hill  veins  of 
magnetic  iron  ore  have  been  discovered.  The  inhabitants 
are  chiefly  engaged  in  farming.  Large  quantities  of  maple 
sugar  are  made  annually.  Landaff  was  granted,  January 
3,  1764,  to  James- Avery  and  others;  but  the  grantees 
neglecting  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  charter,  it  was 
declaimed  to  bo  forfeited.  It  was  then  granted  to  Dart- 
mouth College.  After  the  revolution  the  original  grantees 
set  up  their  claim,  on  the  ground  that  the  adjudication  of 
the  forfeiture  was  irregular.  Several  cases  were  tried  by 
the  court,  and  the  claims  of  the  grantees  were  sustained. 

A  Baptist  church  was  formed  here  in  1788.  There  is 
also  a  Methodist  and  a  Freewill  Baptist  society. 

Population,  948.  Number  of  polls,  207.  Inventory, 
$247,096.  Value  of  lands,  $138,454.  Stock  in  trade, 
$1600.  Money  on  deposit,  &c.,  $21,750.  Number  of 
sheep,  1900.     Do.  neat  stock,  1086.     Do.  horses,  220, 


Sfi^4  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

I4ANGDON,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Charles- 
town,  east  by  Acworth,  south  by  Alstead  and  Walpole, 
^d  west  by  Walpole  and  CharlestoAvn.  Area,  9891  acres. 
Pistance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  west;  from  Newport, 
18,  south-west.  The  soil  is  generally  productive,  and  is 
usually  under  excellent  cultivation.  The  inhabitants 
are  chiefly  engaged  in  farming.  There  is  considerable 
fruit  of  a  delicious  quality  raised  here.  Langdon  has  for 
several  years  been  famous  for  its  large,  handsome  cattle. 
Indeed,  nearly  every  thing  from  the  agricultural  department 
of  this  town  bears  strong  marks  of  the  patient  labor  and 
the  rich  rewards  of  the  farmer.  A  large  branch  of  Cold 
River  passes  in  a  southerly  direction  through  the  entire 
extent  of  the  town.  This  town  was  incorporated  January 
XX f  1787,  and  named  in  honor  of  Governor  Langdon. 
The  first  settlers  "were  Scth  Walker,  Nathaniel  Rice,  and 
Jonathan  Willard,  in  1773. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1792.  There 
}&  also  a  Universalist  society,  consisting  of  but  few  persons. 

Population,  575.  Number  of  polls,  131.  Inventory, 
$327,665.  Value  of  lands,  1 188,529.  Stock  in  trade, 
$5519.  Money  on  deposit,  $51,321.  Number  of  sheep, 
2001.     Do.  neat  stock,  697.     Do.  horses,  149. 

Lebanon,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Hanover, 
east  by  Enfield,  south  by  Plainfield,  and  west  by  Hartford, 
Vermont.  Area,  23,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
65  miles,  north-west,  by  the  Northern  Railroad ;  from 
Dartmouth  College,  4,  south ;  from  Haverhill,  28,  by  the 
Passumpsic  Railroad.  Besides  the  Connecticut,  which 
laves  its  western  border,  it  is  watered  by  the  Mascomy 
River,  which  runs  in  a  westerly  direction  through  its 
centre,  and  affords  several  valuable  mill  seats  and  water 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    IlAMPSHIllE. 

privileges.  Its  source  is  Mascomy,  or  En£cld,  Pond,  by 
which  a  constant  supply  of  water  is  secured.  Its  tributa- 
ries are  Stony  and  Great  Brooks.  Over  this  river,  from 
East  Lebanon  to  White  River  Junction,  a  distance  of  nine 
miles,  the  Northern  Railroad  Company  have  erected  four- 
teen bridges.  The  soil  is  generally  alluvial.  The  inter- 
vals on  the  Connecticut  are  about  half  a  mile  in  width. 
There  is  also  considerable  good  interval  along  the  Masco- 
my.  On  the  uplands  the  soil  is  strong,  deep,  and  fertile, 
and,  with  proper  care,  produces  abundantly.  Excellent 
fruit,  in  considerable  quantities,  is  raised  here.  In  the  east 
pai't  of  the  town  is  a  small  village,  called  East  Lebanon, 
containing  a  depot,  a  hotel,  a  store,  and  a  large  sawmill, 
besides  dwelling  houses,  shops,  &c.  The  village  at  West 
Lebanon,  near  W^hite  River  Junction,  is  indebted  largely 
for  its  present  flourishing  condition  from  the  fact  that  it  is 
situated  at  the  terminus  of  the  Northern  Railroad.  Since 
that  road  was  opened,  its  progress  in  wealth  and  population 
has  been  rapid.  There  are  several  large  and  handsome 
dwelling  houses,  sevex'al  large  buildings  owned  by  the 
Northern  Railroad  Company,  several  stores,  a  new  and 
elegant  meeting  house,  a  public  house,  a  sawmill,  grist- 
mill, &c.  On  an  elevated  and  beautiful  location,  a  few 
rods  from  the  main  street,  a  large  brick  building  is  in  pro- 
cess of  erection,  and  is  designed  for  a  female  academy.  It 
is  named  after  a  Mr.  Tilden,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  New 
York  city,  formerly  of  this  town,  who  contributed  ^5000 
towards  its  erection.  Its  entire  cost  is  estimated  at 
$12,000. 

The  principal  village  is  situated  on  a  plain  near-  the  cen- 
tre, at  the  head  of  the  Mis  of  Mascomy  River.      The  depot 
is  conveniently  located  a  few  rods  westerly  from  the  Com- 
mon.    The  Common  is  a  square,  level  area,  containing  10 
23 


266  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

or  12  acres.  Several  of  the  houses  surrounding  it  are 
elegant  and  costly  structures.  All  are  handsome,  and 
mostly  two  stories  in  height.  The  streets  are  spacious, 
and  shaded  with  maple  and  elm.  The  whole  presents  a 
picture  of  neatness,  beauty,  and  thrift  seldom  surpassed. 
There  arc  three  houses  of  religious  worship,  —  one  Con- 
gregational, one  Methodist,  and  one  Universalist,  —  one 
academy,  two  hotels,  and  about  twenty  stores  ;  also  tai- 
lors', tin  M^are,  and  blacksmiths'  shops. 

Tlie  manufacturing  interest  is  quite  extensive.  Some 
of  the  principal  establishments  are  worthy  of  particular 
notice. 

Iron  Foundery  —  Simons,  Durant,  &  Co..  Capital  stock, 
about  ^20,000.  Manufacture  stoves,  ploughs,  mill  and 
machinery  castings,  trimming  machines,  &c.  Number  of 
hands  employed,  20. 

Phillips,  Messer,  &  Colby  —  Scythe  Factory ;  A.  S.  Mes- 
ser  agent.  Capital  stock,  ^5000.  Amount  manufactured 
per  annum,  1600  dozen.     Number  of  men  employed,  12. 

M.  &  J.  H.  Buck  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  wood-work- 
ing  machinery,  mill  irons,  portable  and  stationary  steam 
engines,  and  planing  and  mortising  machines.  Capital 
stock,  about  $40,000.  Amount  manufactured  per  annum, 
,i^50,000.  Number  of  hands  employed,  50.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  firm  are  active,  enterprising,  and  intelligent. 
Their  work  is  widely  celebrated.  They  have  received 
orders  from  the  British  government  for  some  kinds  of  ma- 
chinery manufictured  by  them. 

Sturtevant  &  Cole,  manufacturers  of  doors,  sashes,  and 
blinds.  Capital  stock,  about  $15,000.  Number  of  hands 
employed,  18. 

The  manufacture  of  chairs  and  cabinet  work  is  carried 
on  to  a  considerable  extent. 


GAZKTTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  267 

There  is  also  a  large  gristmill,  constructed  on  the  prin- 
ciples of  modern  improvement. 

The  people  are  enterprising  and  industrious.  Society  is 
refined  and  agreeable. 

The  capital  of  the  Bank  of  Lebanon  is  $100,000. 

The  Granite  State  Whig,  a  weekly  newspaper,  is  pub- 
lished here. 

The  farmers^  are  generally  independent,  owing  much  of 
their  prosperity  to  the  early  introduction  of  sheep  on  quite 
an  extensive  scale,  and  to  careful  selections  of  the  best 
grades.  This  is  a  remarkably  healthy  township.  Galena 
bog  iron  ore,  arsenical  pyrites,  brown  epidote,  and  haematite 
iron  are  found  in  various  localities. 

The  fiicilities  for  trade  and  mercantile  enterprise  are  sur- 
passed by  but  few  country  towns.  Notwithstanding  its 
extent  and  variety  of  business,  Lebanon  has  long  been 
noted  for  its  very  slight  encouragement  to  gentlemen  of 
the  legal  profession.  It  was  granted,  July  4,  1761,  to  62 
proprietors.  The  first  settlers  were  William  Downer,  Wil- 
liam Dana,  Levi  Hyde,  Charles  Hill,  Silas  Waterman,  and 
Nathaniel  Porter.  It  was  the  first  town  settled  on  Con- 
necticut River  north  of  Charlestown.  The  first  settlers 
were  a  brave,  hardy  people,  tenacious  of  their  rights;  many 
of  them  possessed  of  strong  minds,  and  well  educated. 
The  Congregational  society  was  established  in  1771,  the 
Universalist  society  in  1813,  and  the  Methodist  society 
about  1836.  The  second  Congregational  society  was  or- 
ganized in  1850.  Thomas  Waterman  was  the  first  male 
child  born  in  Lebanon. 

Population  in  1854,  2336.  Number  of  legal  voters, 
500.  Do.  school  districts,  15.  Inventory,  $846,608. 
Value  of  mills  and  fixctories,  $23,000.  Stock  in  trade, 
^25,350.     Money  on  deposit,  at  interest,  &c.,  in   1852, 


268  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

$42,300.     Value  of  lands,  $470,788.     Number  of  sheep, 
13, 1 15.    Do.  neat  stock,  1223.    Do.  horses  and  mules,  304. 

Lee,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north  by  Barrington 
and  !Madbury,  east  by  Durham,  south  by  Newmarket  and 
Epping,  and  west  by  Nottingham  and  Barrington.  Area, 
11,625  acres,  300  of  which  are  covered  with  Avater.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  31  miles,  south-east ;  from  Dover, 
12,  south-west.  In  the  north  part  is  Wheelwright's  Pond, 
covering  165  acres,  and  forming  the  source  of  Oyster  River. 
This  pond  is  memorable  on  account  of  a  battle  fought  on 
its  shores,  in  1690,  between  a  party  of  Indians  and  two 
companies  of  rangers  imder  Captains  Floyd  and  Wiswall. 
Lamprey,  Little,  North,  and  Oyster  Rivers  are  the  princi- 
pal streams.  The  soil  is  generally  hard,  and  requires  con- 
siderable cultivation  to  render  it  productive.  In  some 
parts,  however,  it  is  very  fertile.  Agriculture  is  almost 
the  only  employment.  This  town  was  originally  a  part  of 
Durham,  and  was  incorporated  January  16,  1766. 

Population,  863.  Number  of  polls,  216.  Inventory, 
$309,928.  Value  of  lands,  $199,660.  Stock  in  trade, 
$1506.  Value  of  mills,  &c.,  $4242.  Number  of  sheep, 
1130.     Do.  neat  stock,  959.     Do.  horses,  174. 

Lempster,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Unity, 
east  by  Goshen  and  Washington,  south  by  Marlow,  and 
west  by  Acworth.  Area,  21,410  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  40  miles,  west;  from  Newport,  12,  south.  The 
surface  is  mostly  uneven,  and  in  the  eastern  part  moun- 
tainous. The  soil  is  moist  and  cold,  and  better  adapted  to 
grass  than  grain.  It  is  well  watered,  but  by  small  streams. 
Near  the  western  boundary  is  a  pond,  320  rods  long  and 
80  in  width.     Sand  Pond,  lying  in  this  town  and  Marlow, 


GAZETTKER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  269 

w  420  rods  long  and  70  wide.  Dodge's  Pond,  near  the 
centre,  covers  about  t50  acres.  The  surface  is  hilly,  and 
in  some  parts  rocky.  It  is  an  excellent  growing  town. 
There  are  two  meeting  houses,  one  hotel,  three  stores,  and 
a  large  shoe  manufactory,  in  connection  with  which  is  an 
extensive  tannery,  where  common  hair-tanned  leather  and 
patent  hair-tanned  leather  are  made.  The  amount  of  cap- 
ital invested  is  $25,000.  Number  of  hands  employed,  70. 
Alvah  Smith  &  Sons,  proprietors. 

Lempster  was  granted  by  charter,  October  5,  1761,  to 
Richard  SparroAv  and  Gl  others.  In  November  of  the 
same  year  a  Congregational  church  was  organized.  There 
is  also  a  Methodist  society  here. 

Population,  906.  Number  of  polls,  200.  Inventory, 
$292,376.  Number  of  sheep,  2446.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1029.     Do.  horses,  198. 

Lincoln,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Franconia, 
east  by  Thornton  and  ungranted  lands,  south  by  "Woodstock, 
and  west  by  I«ind;ifF.  Area,  32,456  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  70  miles,  north ;  from  Haverhill,  20,  east.  The 
middle  tract  of  the  Pemigewasset  passes  nearly  through 
the  centre  of  the  town.  There  are  several  ponds,  the 
most  important  of  which  are  Bog,  Fish,  and  Loon  Ponds. 
There  are  many  elevations  ;  Kinsman's  Mountain  is  the 
highest.  This  is  a  rough  township,  and  the  soil  is  poor. 
The  crops  are  often  injured  by  early  frosts.  Wild  animals 
are  abundant.  There  are  numerous  instances  of  land  slips 
in  this  vicinity.  They  commence  near  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  and  consist  of  vast  avalanches  of  earth  and  mas- 
sive rocks,  which  slide  downwards  to  its  base,  forcing  their 
way  against  every  impediment.  This  town  was  granted, 
January  31,  1764,  to  James  Avery  and  others,  but  was  not 
23* 


270  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

settled  until  the  close  of  the  revolution.  Its  population 
has  increased  but  slowly.  Many  portions  of  the  town 
seem  to  have  been  designed  by  Nature  as  a  residence  for 
creatures  of  habits  different  from  those  of  man. 

Population,  57.  Number  of  polls,  19.  Inventory, 
$21,158.     Value  of  lands,  |14,016. 

Lisbon,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Littleton, 
east  by  Franconia,  south  by  LandaiF,  and  west  by  Lyman. 
Area,  29,130  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  89  miles, 
north ;  from  Haverhill,  20,  north-east.  It  is  watered 
through  its  whole  extent  by  the  Lower  Ammonoosuc  River, 
which  runs  in  a  south-west  direction,  and  by  several  other 
small  streams.  Mink  Pond,  in  the  southern  part,  affords  a 
few  good  mill  seats  at  its  outlet.  The  interval  along  the 
Ammonoosuc  is  very  productive.  The  plain  land  has  a 
light,  tliin  soil,  unproductive  unless  enriched  with  frequent 
dressing  with  manure.  The  upland  is  a  strong,  deep  soil, 
aflfording  many  valuable  farms  for  tillage  and  grazing. 
Blueberry  Mountain  is  the  principal  elevation.  Most  of  the 
iron  ore  which  supplies  the  Franconia  furnace  is  taken 
from  veins  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  this  town.  Lime- 
stone exists  in  numerous  localities,  and  in  great  abundance. 
Large  quantities  of  maple  sugar  are  made  here  annually. 
Lisbon  was  first  granted,  August  6,  1763,  to  Joseph  Burt 
and  others,  under  the  name  of  Concord.  It  was  aftcrAvards 
granted  to  Leonard  Whiting  and  others,  November  20, 
17G8,  under  the  name  of  Gunthwaite.  Its  former  name 
was  again  resumed,  and  retained  until  1817,  when  it  re- 
ceived its  present  name. 

Population,  1882.  Number  of  polls,  372.  Inventory, 
$436,285.  Value  of  lands,  $243,425.  Stock  in  trade, 
$1 1,400.  Number  of  sheep,  2818.  Do.  neat  stock,  1839 
Do.  horses,  358. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  271 

LiTCHFiETiD,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  and 
east  by  Londonderry,  south  by  Hudson,  and  west  by  Mer- 
rimack Area,  842G  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30 
miles,  south  ;  from  Amhdrst,  8,  east.  This  is  a  small  but 
remarkably  fertile  township.  There  is  yet  remaining  con- 
siderable timber  land  of  great  value.  Farmilig  is  almost 
the  sole  employment.  The  Merrimack  washes  its  entire 
western  border.  This  town  was  taken  from  Nashua,  (then 
called  Dunstable,)  and  incorporated  by  Massachusetts,  in 
1734.  It  was  chartered  by  New  Hampshire  in  1749.  It 
was  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  Natticott.  The  set- 
tlement commenced  in  1720.  A  Congregational  church 
was  formed  in  1741.  A  Presbyterian  church  was  organ- 
ized in  1809,  which  is,  at  the  present  time,  the  only  re- 
ligious society  having  a  settled  pastor. 

Population,  447.  Houses,  81.  '  Families,  89.  Farms, 
55.  Stores,  1.  Mills,  3.  Inventory,  $229,303.  Value 
of  lands,  $110,516.  Stock  in  trade,  $7290.  Number  of 
sheep,  249.  Do.  neat  stock,  422.  Do.  horses,  56.  Do. 
polls,  96. 

Littleton,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dalton 
and  Waterford,  Vermont,  east  by  Dalton  and  Bethlehem, 
south  by  Libbon  and  Lyman,  and  west  by  Concord,  Ver- 
mont. Area,  26,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  100 
miles,  north-west ;  from  Haverhill,  30,  north.  Connecti- 
cut IJiver  extends  along  the  western  border  for  15  miles ; 
and  so  rapid  is  its  course  that  it  is  impossible  to  ascend  or 
descend  in  boats  with  safety.  For  several  miles  the  water 
rushes  almost  like  a  cataract,  foaming  and  dashing  with  fury 
over  its  rocky  bed.  Ammonoosuc  River  waters  its  southern 
part ;  and  along  its  banks  are  small  patches  of  excellent  in- 
terval. This  river  affords  many  very  fine  mill  seats,  sev- 
eral of  which  are  occupied.     The  surface  is  in  many  parts 


« 


272  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

uneven  and  rocky,  but  a  large  portion  of  the^town  is  well 
adapted  to  tillage  or  grazing.  Black,  Iron,  Palmer's,  and 
Raspberry  Mountains  are  the  most  considerable  elevations. 
Large  quantities  of  limestone  are  fo^t:!  in  various  locali- 
ties. Novagulite,  or  oilstone,  is  found  in  abundance.  The 
oilstones  are^'wrought  and  ground  into  proper  shape,  and 
sold  for  25  cents  per  pound.  It  is  a  greenish  and  blue 
compact  slate,  with  a  fine  siliceous  grit.  The  quarry  fur- 
nishes several  kinds  suitable  for  sharpening  fine  instru- 
ments and  carpenters'  tools  of  all  kinds.  It  is  very  exten- 
sive, and  of  great  value.  The  inhabitants  are  generally 
devoted  to  agriculture  ;  and  many  fine  farms  furnish  un- 
mistakable proof  that  this  pursuit  is  attended  with  skill  and^ 
perseverance. 

Considerable  attention  is  paid  to  manufactures.  There 
is  a  large  Avoollen  factory,  in  which  about  75  operatives  are 
employed ;  an  iron  foundery  and  two  machine  shops,  where 
22  men  are  employed  ;  two  sawmills,  in  which  10  men  are 
employed  ;  one  chair  factory,  cabinet,  and  carriage  shop,  in 
which  IG  men  arc  employed  ;  one  sash  and  blind  factory, 
furnishing  employment  for  10  men ;  and  one  bedstead  fac- 
tory, where  7  men  are  employed.  There  are  also  thirteen 
stores,  ten  blacksmith  shops,  one  extensive  tannery,  two 
meeting  houses,  and  three  hotels.  The  White  Mountain 
House,  recently  erected,  is  a  spacious,  well-arranged,  and 
handsomely  finished  building.  The  traveller  may  rest 
assured  that  here  he  will  find  a  comfortable  home,  ^t  is 
commodiously  located  on  the  route  usually  taken  by  visit- 
ors to  the  White  Mountains  and  Fianconia.  H.  S.  Thayer 
proprietor. 

The  territory,  including  Littleton,  was  first  granted, 
November  17,  1764,  under  the  name  of  Chiswick.  It 
was  regranted,  January  18,  1770,  by  the  name  of  Apthorp, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  278 

and  included  Daltou.  la  November,  1784,  it  was  divided, 
and  the  towns  of  Littleton  and  Dalton  incorporated.  A 
Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1803.  There  is 
also  a  Methodist  society,  numbering  about  125  members. 
The  White  Mountain  Railroad  terminates  here,  and  adds 
greatly  to  the  mercantile  facilities  of  this  town,  as  well  as 
to  its  general  thrift  and  prosperity. 

Population  in  1854,  2148.  NuMpbor  of  legal  voters, 
501.  ^'aluation,  $472,144.  Value  of  lands,  $267,296. 
Stock  in  trade,  !^14,450.  Do.  mills,  factories,  and  ma- 
chinery, $1G,50Q.  Number  of  sheep,  2081.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1757.     Do.  horses,  353. 

LoxDOXDEURY,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Manchester  and  Auburn,  east  by  Derry  and  Windham, 
south  by  Hudson,  and  west  by  Litchfield.  It  originally 
included  64,000  acres  ;  but  several  towns  have  since  been 
taken  from  it.  The  largest  stream  is  Beavers'  River,  issuing 
fi'om  Beavers'  Pond  —  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  nearly  cir- 
cular in  form,  and  about  300  rods  in  diameter.  This  town 
contains  but  very  little  waste  land.  The  soil  is  unusually 
fertile  and  easy  of  cultivation.  There  are  no  high  hills,  ex- 
tensive plains,  swamps,  or^tagnant  waters  of.  any  consider- 
able extent.  Its  surface  is  varied  by  gentle  swells  and 
intervening  vales.  The  healthfulness  of  its  location  is 
indicated  by  the  longevity  of  the  inhabitants.  The  village 
is  very  plcasimtly  located  on  a  slight  elevation.  There  are 
three  meeting  houses,  —  belonging  respectively  to  the  Pres- 
byteriaai.  Baptist,  and  Methodist  societies,  —  six  stores,  and 
two  shoe  manufactories. 

This  town  was  settled,  in  1719,  by  a  colony  of  Presby- 
terians from  Londonderry,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  whither 
their  ancestors  had  emigrated  from  Scotland  about  tlic  year 


£74  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

1616.  Ou  the  11th  of  April,  1719,  sixteen  families,  with 
the  Eev.  James  McGregore,  their  pastor,  took  possession  of 
this  township,  which  was  then  called  Nutfield.  In  1720 
they  purchased  a  tract  of  land  from  Colonel  John  Wheel- 
wright, whose  ancestor  had  purchased  the  same,  together 
with  other  lands,  from  the  Indians.  Although  this  was 
long  a  frontier  town,  the  inhabitants  were  never  molested  by 
the  Indians.  The  ptoprietors  of  Londonderry  received  a 
grant  of  the  tract  on  Avhich  they  had  located,  and  a  charter 
of  incorporation,  June  1,  1722.  The  early  settlers  were 
generally  farmers  —  intelligent,  prudent,  and  of  sound  judg- 
ment. None  were  rich,  but  most  were  possessed  of  suf- 
ficient property  to  enable  them  to  make  an  easy  start  and 
rapid  progress  in  the  improvement  of  their  lands.  They 
introduced  the  culture  of  the  potato,  a  vegetable  hitherto 
unknown  in  New  England;  and  it  was  not  until  many 
years  after  this  that,  if  a  farmer  laid  by  three  bushels  of 
potatoes  for  his  winter  stock,  he  regarded  this  meagre 
quantity,  as  wc  should  now  term  it,  as  more  than  sufficient 
for  his  wants.  They  also  introduced  the  manufocture  of 
linen  cloth,  which  was  for  many  years  a  source  of  no  small 
profit. 

A  company  of  70  men  fi-om  tfcis  town,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  George  Reid,  were  in  the  battle  at  Bunker's 
Hill ;  and  about  the  same  number  were  in  that  at  Benning- 
ton, where  Captain  David  McClary,  one  of  their  leaders,  a 
brave  and  noble-hearted  officer,  was  killed.  The  celebrated 
Major  General  John  Stark  and  Colonel  George  Reid, 
officers  of  the  revolutionarj'^  army,  Avere  natives  of  this 
town. 

Joseph  M.  Keen,  D.  ]).,  the  first  president  of  Bowdoin 
College,  Arthur  Livermore,  Jonathan  Steele,  and  Samuel 
Bell,  judges   of   the  Superior  Court,   the  latter  of  whom 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEVS'    HAMPSHIRE.  276 

was  governor  of  New  Hampshire  from  1819  to  1823, 
were  also  natives  of  Londonderry.  Among  the  descend- 
ants of  the  early  settlers  are  Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith, 
chief  justice  of  the  Superior  Court ;  Generals  Miller  and 
McNeil,  distinguished  officers  in  the  war  of  1812;  Mat- 
thew Thornton,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence;  and  John  Prentice,  for  several  years  attor- 
ney general  of  the  state. 

Population,  1731.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
453.  Do.  common  schools,  11.  Inventory,  ^557,150. 
Value  of  lands,  '^215,055.  Stock  in  trade,  $3400.  Money 
on  deposit,  &c.,  .$29,701.  Number  of  sheep,  328.  Do. 
neat  stock,  1200.     Do.  horses,  220. 

LouDOX,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north-west  by 
Canterbury,  north-east  by  Gilmanton,  south-east  by  Chi- 
chester, and  south-west  by  Concord.  Area,  28,257  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  about  10  miles,  north-east.  Sou- 
cook  River,  running  in  a  southerly  direction  through  this 
town,  affords  several  valuable  mill  privileges.  There  is 
considerable  good  interval  along  its  banks.  The  soil  is 
various.  The  natural  growth  of  timber  is  maple,  beech, 
pine,  oak,  and  chestnut.  Soucook  village  is  the  seat  of 
the  principal  business.  London  was  formerly  a  part  of 
Canterbury,  from  which  it  M'as  taken  and  incorporated 
January  23,  1773.  Settlements  had  been  made,  in  1760, 
by  Moses  Ordway  and  Abraham  and  Jethro  Bachelder.  A 
Congregational  society  was  established  here  in  1784.  There 
is  also  a  Methodist  and  a  Freewill  Baptist  society. 

Population,  1553.  Number  of  polls,  411.  Inventory, 
1590,890.  Value  of  land^,  $276,741.  Stock  in  trade, 
$4500.  Money  on  deposit,  &c.,  $34,551.  Number  of 
sheep,  1830.     Do.  neat  stock,  2074.     Do.  horses,  302. 


Ji«b  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Lyman,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Littleton, 
east  by  Lisbon,  south  by  Bath,  and  west  by  Monroe.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  90  miles,  north ;  from  Haverhill,  13, 
north.  There  are  several  ponds  in  this  town,  through  the 
largest  of  which  Burnham's  River  flows.  The  lower  por- 
tion of  the  Fifteen  Mile  Falls  is  in  Lyman.  The  soil 
is  generally  good  for  the  grains  and  grass.  The  inhabit- 
ants are  a  sober,  industrious,  and  enterprising  people. 
This  town  was  granted,  November  10,  1761,  to  several 
individuals,  among  whom  Daniel  Lyman  was  conspicuous. 
From  him  the  township  received  its  name.  From  the  first 
three  families  that  settled  here  were  20  sons,  19  of  whom 
lived  to  a  great  age. 

Population,  1442.  Inventory,  $357,229.  Number  of 
polls,  305. 

Lyme,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Orford,  east 
by  Dorchester,  south  by  Hanover,  and  west  by  Thetford, 
Vermont.  Area,  28,500  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
54  miles,  north-west ;  from  Haverhill,  20,  south.  There 
are  three  small  streams  passing  through  Lyme,  and  dis- 
charging into  the  Connecticut  River,  upon  one  of  which 
has  been  erected  within  a  few  years  a  large  and  valuable 
gristmill.  Scarcity  of  water  is  provided  "against  by  several 
large  reservoirs,  built  at  great  expense,  by  means  of  which 
abundance  of  water  is  obtained  in  the  dryest  seasons.  The 
soil  is  different  from  that  of  other  towns  on  Connecticut 
River  in  the  proportion  of  interval,  which  is  far  less,  the 
lands  adjacent  to  the  river  l^eing  similar  to  those  of  other 
parts  of  the  town.  The  most  considerable  elevation  is 
Smart's  Mountain,  in  the  north-east  part.  Beds  of  lime- 
stone, of  the  granular,  crystalline  variety,  are  found  in  sev- 
eral locations,  associated  with  which  are  large  quantities  of 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSIIITIE.  277 

massive  garnet,  with  crystals  of  hornblende.  Some  of  these 
beds  are  six  feet  in  thickness.  A  very  curious  mixture  of 
granular  quartz  with  carbonate  of  lime  has  been  discovered. 
It  exists  in  exhaustless  quantities,  and  is  highly  valuable 
for  the  manufacture  of  plate  or  window  glass.  Very  hand- 
some specimens  of  black  tourmaline,  or  crystallized  sulphu- 
ret  of  antimony,  have  been  found  in  different  parts  of  the 
town.  Between  the  east  and  west  villages  is  an  extensive 
deposit  of  clay  marl,  of  inestimable  value  for  agricultural 
purposes.  Lyme  is  a  very  fine  farming  town.  It  has  been 
celebrated  for  many  years  for  its  large  wheat  crops  and  its 
numerous  and  superior  flocks  of  sheep.  The  people  are 
industrious,  and  generally  independent.  The  principal 
village,  which  is  pleasantly  situated,  is  remarkable  for  the 
neatness  and  order  which  generally  prevail. 

Lyme  was  incorporated,  July  8,  1761,  and  granted  to 
Theodore  Atkinson  and  others.  It  was  settled.  May  20, 
1764,  by  Walter  Fairfield,  John  and  William  Sloan,  and 
others.     The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1772. 

Population,  1618.  Number  of  polls,  .362.  Inventory, 
.$591,615.  Value  of  lands,  |352,210.  Stock  in  trade, 
$12,650.  Value  of  mills,  $7125.  Money  on  deposit, 
$51,615.  Number  of  sheep,  13,176.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1414.     Do.  horses,  317. 

Lyndeborough,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Greenfield,  Francestown,  and  New  Boston,  east  by 
Mount  Vernon  and  Milford,  south  by  Milford,  Wilton, 
and  Temple,  and  west  by  Temple  and  Greenfield.  Area, 
20,767  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  35  miles,  south; 
from  Amherst,  10,  west.  This  is  an  elevated  township. 
A  mountain  range  of  considerable  height  divides  it  from 
east  to  west.  The  soil  is  stony,  but  deep  and  strong.  For 
.  24  ^ 


378  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

grazing,  it  is  doubtless  unequalled  by  any  town  in  the 
county.  The  streams  are  small,  originating  mostly  from 
springs  within  the  town.  The  village,  though  small,  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  banks  of  Piscataquog  River. 

Lvndeborough  was  originally  granted,  by  Massachusetts, 
to  Captain  Samuel  King  and  59  others,  who  were  engaged 
in  the  Canada  expedition  in  1690.  It  was  then  called 
Salem  Canada,  from  the  circumstance  that  many  of  those 
belonging  to  the  expedition  were  from  Salem.  In  1753 
Benjamin  Lynde,  Esq.,  purchased  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  township  and  adjoining  lands.  It  was  incorporated 
April  23,  1764,  and  received  its  name  from  him.  It  was 
settled  in  1750.  A  Congregational  church  was  formed 
here  in  1757.  There  is  also  a  Baptist  society,  which  has 
occasional  preaching. 

Population,  968.  Houses,  199.  Families,  203.  Farms, 
123.  Inventory,  $385,083.  Value  of  lands,  $204,946. 
Stock  in  trade,  $5755.  Number  of  sheep,  483.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1065.     Do.  horses,  171.     Do.  polls,  227. 

Madbury,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
Dover,  south-west  by  Durham  and  Lee,  and  north-west  by 
Barrington.  This  is  a  small,  triangular-shaped  town,  con- 
taining about  12  square  miles.  Distance  from  Concord,  36 
miles,  south-east ;  from  Dover,  3,  south.  Its  extreme 
easterly  point  extends  to  the  tidewater  of  a  branch  of  the 
Piscataqua.  The  soil  is  generally  productive.  In  the 
valleys  it  consists  of  a  proportion  of  clay,  on  the  uplands 
of  a  mixture  of  sand  and  loam.  Bog  iron  ore  and  red  and 
yellow  ochre  exist  in  several  localities  and  in  considerable 
quantities.  Bellamy  Bank  River  is  the  only  stream  of  im- 
portance, and  Barbadoes  Pond  the  only  considerable  body 
of  water.    This  town  originally  constituted  a  part  of  Dover, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIUE.  279 

but  was  set  off  from  it  and  incorporated  May  SI,  1755. 
Agriculture  is  almost  the  only  industrial  pursuit. 

Population,  484.  Number  of  polls,  117.  Inventory, 
$180,978.  Value  of  lands,  |120,150.  Do.  mills,  $300. 
Money  on  depobit,  ^c,  $11,499.  Number  of  sheep,  338. 
Do.  neat  stock,  537.     Do.  horses,  88. 

Madisox,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Albany, 
east  by  Conway  and  Eaton,  south  by  Freedom,  and  west 
by  Tamworth.  Distance  from  Concord,  64  miles,  north- 
east ;  from  Ossipee,  about  20,  north.  The  surface  is 
uneven,  and  in  some  parts  rocky ;  the  soil  is  generally 
good.  Six  Mile  Pond  is  the  largest  body  of  water.  There 
is  one  meeting  house,  which  belongs  to  the  Freewill  Bap- 
tist society.  There  are  four  stores  and  one  hotel.  This 
town  was  formerly  a  part  of  Eaton,  and  was  set  off  from  it 
and  incorporated  December  17,  1852.  It  is  divided  into 
nine  school  districts. 

Population,  about  840.     Number  of  legal  voters,  200. 

Manchester,  Hillsborough  county,  lies  on  the  east  side 
of  Merrimack  River,  which  forms  its  western  boundary 
for  a  distance  of  nine  miles ;  Hooksett  touches  it  upon  the 
north,  Auburn  upon  the  east,  and  Londonderry  upon  the 
south.  Massabesick  Lake  lies  partly  in  this  town  and 
partly  in  Auburn.  This  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water, 
studded  with  islands,  and  affording  some  of  the  finest  pros- 
pects in  this  part  of  the  state.  It  is  divided  into  two 
nearly  equal  parts  by  a  narrow  strait,  which  is  crossed  by  a 
bridge  ;  each  of  these  parts  is  about  three  miles  long  by 
one  wide.  It  is  a  favorite  resort  as  well  with  strangers  as 
with  those  living  in  its  vicinity.  The  soil  is  generally 
lights  sandy,  and  unproductive.    Had  Manchester  depended 


280  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

for  its  prosperity  upon  its  agricultural  resources,  instead  of 
enjoying  tlie  honor  of  having  the  largest  and  most  flourish- 
ing city  in  the  state  within  its  limits,  its  rank  would  have 
been  -with  the  lowest  class  of  towns.  But  while  such 
astonishing  progress  has  been  made  within  a  few  years 
through  the  impulse  given  to  almost  every  department  of 
business,  that  attention  which  agriculture  justly  merits,  as 
the  foundation  of  every  other  enterprise,  has  by  no  means 
been  forgotten. 

The  Amoskcag  Falls,  between  Manchester  and  Goffs- 
town,  are  the  largest  on  the  Merrimack.  In  the  ordinary 
stage  of  the  water,  the  fall  to  the  foot  of  the  locks  is  47 
feet,  and  the  whole  fall  in  the  space  of  a  mile  is  54  feet, 
furnishing  power  sufficient  to  run  several  hundred  thousand 
spindles.  This  almost  incalculable  force  is  the  nurse  of 
the  vigorous  city  which,  though  still  in  its  youth,  is  the 
first  in  the  Granite  State ;  the  largest  in  population ;  the 
most  varied,  extensive,  and  prolific  in  productive  industry ; 
and  among  the  cotton  manufacturing  districts  in  New 
England,  it  staiids  second  only  to  Lowell.  At  the  head  of 
the  Amoskeag  Falls  a  stone  dam  has  been  constructed,  on 
the  east  side  of  which  guard  gates  of  the  most  substantial 
masonry  are  built,  through  which  the  water  passes  into  a 
spacious  reservoir,  or  basin,  connected  with  the  upper  canal, 
for  the  use  of  the  mills,  and  with  the  Amoskeag  Canal, 
which  was  built  in  1816  for  the  purposes  of  navigation. 
The  upper  canal  is  4950  feet  long,  75  wide  at  the  reser- 
voir, from  which  it  is  gradually  diminished  to  45  feet,  is 
10  feet  deep,  and  is  walled  throughout  with  stone.  The 
lower  canal,  which  is  the  old  Amoskeag  Canal,  is  7500 
feet  in  length,  corresponding  in  its  other  dimensions  and 
construction  with  the  upper  canal.  The  fall  from  the 
upper  canal  into  the  lower  is  20  feet ;  from  the  lower  to 


OAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  281 

the  river,  from  20  to  30  feet.  The  water  power  thus 
secured  is  estimated  to  be  sufficient  to  drive  216^000  spin- 
dles, together  Avitli  all  other  machinery  necessary  to  com- 
plete the  manufacture  of  cloth.  The  rapid  fall  of  the 
river  below  prevents  all  obstructions  from  backwater. 
The  falls  are  truly  a  curiosity  of  Nature.  The  width  of 
the  river  is  greatly  increased,  and  is  divided  into  several 
streams  by  numei'ous  small  islands.  The  water  rushes 
through  the  various  channels  over  a  rugged  bottom  with 
great  velocity,  and  the  sound  it  produces  is  heard  at  a  great 
distance.  At  the  upper  part,  near  the  greatest  fall,  circu- 
lar holes  of  various  sizes  have  been  Avorn  pcrjicndicularly 
into  the  solid  rock  several  feet,  some  of  which  are  neJlrly 
10  feet  in  diameter.  It  is  said  that  the  Indians,  in  time  of 
war,  concealed  their  provisions  in  these  holes.  Various 
kinds  of  tools  used  by  the  aborigines,  such  as  axes,  chisels, 
arrowheads,  gouges,  &c.,  have  been  discovered  in  the 
vicinity ;  also  skeletons  and  parts  of  the  human  frame 
have  been  dug  up  here,  rendering  it  probable  that  the 
spot  was  a  frequent  resort  of  the  Indians. 

Manchester  was  incorporated,  September  3,  1751,  under 
the-  name  of  Derrylicld.  It  was  taken  from  Londonderry, 
Chester,  and  a  portion  of  a  tract  called  Harrytown.  It 
received  its  present  name  in  1810.  In  1822  its  population 
amounted  to  761  ;  in  1830,  it  was  887  ;  in  1840,  3325  ; 
in  1850,  13,933 ;  in  1854,  19,897. 

The  city  of  Manchester  was  incorporated  in  June,  1846. 
Its  present  mayor  is  Frederic  Smyth  ;  city  clerk,  George 
A.  French.  The  city  proper  is  divided  into  six  wards. 
Its  coui^il  and  officers  generally  are  the  same  as  those  in 
similar  coijiorations.  It  is  laid  out  in  nearly  square  form, 
being  the  longest  from  north  to  south.  The  streets  are 
24  * 


282  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

regular  and  broad.  The  western  portion  is  built  almost 
exclusively  of  brick ;  while  the  eastern  abounds  in  wooden 
structures,  many  of  which  are  elegant  and  tasteful  resi- 
dences. It  is  situated  on  a  plain,  about  90  feet  above  the 
river,  the  boarding  houses  of  the  corporations  occupying 
the  slope  towards  the  canals.  'Che  pi'incipal  street,  (Elm,) 
which  may  be  termed  the  Broadway  of  Manchester,  is 
100  feet  in  Nvidth,  extends  more  than  a  mile  north  and 
south,  and  presents  an  attractive  and  lively  aspect.  Four 
large  squares  have  been  laid  out  in  different  parts  of  the 
city,  handsomely  enclosed,  and  decorated  with  trees.  In 
two  of  them  are  ponds  of  considerable  size,  which  serve 
the 'double  purpose  of  ornament  and  as  reservoirs  in  case  of 
fires.  More  particular  notice  will  be  given  of  the  squares 
under  the  appropriate  head. 

The  public  cemetery,  called  the  Valley,  includmg  an 
area  of  25  acres,  and  situated  a  short  distance  from  the 
city,  is  truly  a  beautiful  spot.  Notwithstanding  its  vicinity 
to  the  city,  yet  such  is  the  natural  formation  of  the  adjacent 
grounds  that  a  solitude  both  agreeable  and  appropriate, 
and  which  tends  rather  to  impress  the  mjnd  of  the  visitor 
with  a  sense  of  the  intimate  relations  of  the  departed  with 
the  living,  pervades  its  charming  though  sacred  walks, 
and,  for  the  time,  shuts  out  from  the  not  unwilling  heart 
all  consciousness  of  the  bustle  and  activity  of  the  gay  and 
crowded  streets.  The  surface  iis  somewhat  broken,  afford- 
ing a  pleasing  variety  of  plain,  woodland,  laM'u,  and  sloping 
declivity.  A  deep  valley  divides  the  enclosure,  at  the  bot- 
tom of  which  a  running  stream  winds  its  way,  with  gentle 
lullaby,  to  the  busy  waters  of  the  noble  Merrimacic.  It  it 
laid  out  with  winding  paths  and  broad  avenues,  richly 
adorned  with  shade  trees  and  shrubbery.     It  is  always  a 


GAZETTEER    OV    NEW    HAMP3HIUE.  283 

place  of  resort,  and  is  justly  a  source  of  pride  to  those  who 
have  so  admirably  succeeded  in  clothing  with  beauty  and 
attraction  the  last  home  of  mortals. 

Religious  Societies.  —  First  Methodist  Episcopal  society 

—  organized  in  1829  ;  house  in  Manchester  Centre  ;  Rev. 
Elijah  F.  Wilkins  pastor.      Elm  Street  Methodist  society 

—  chapel  on  Elm  Street;  cost  $16,000;  Elisha  Adams 
pastor.  Univcrsalist  society  —  organized  in  1839;  house 
on  Lowell  Street;  cost  $11,000;  B.  M.  Tillotson  pastor. 
First  Congregational  society  —  incorporated  in  18-39;  house 
on  Hanover  Street ;  cost  $6500  ;  C.  W.  Wallace  pastor. 
First  Baptist  society  —  organized  in  1839;  house  on  Man- 
chester Street  ;  cost  $7000 ;  Isaac  Sawyer  pastor.  Free- 
will Baptist  society  —  organized  in  1839;  house  on  Merri- 
mack Street ;  cost  $5000.  Unitarian  society  —  organized 
in  1840  ;  house  on  Merrimack  Street,  corner  of  Union ; 
Francis  Le  Barron  pastor.  Saint  Michael's  Church,  Epis- 
copal—  organized  in  1841;  church  on  Lowell  Street, 
corner  of  Pine  ;  L  G.  Hubbard  rector.  Franklin  Street 
Church,  Second  Congregational  society  —  organized  in 
1844;  house  on  Franklin  Street;  cost  $11,000  ;  Samuel 
C.  Bartlett  pastor.  Second  Baptist  society  —  house  on 
Elm  Street ;  cost  $8000  ;  J.  M.  Coburn  pastor.  Catho- 
lic church  —  erected  in  1850  ;  house  on  Union,  corner  of 
Merrimack  Street ;  cost  $16,000.  Wesleyan  Methodist 
society  —  organized  in  1849  ;  meetings  in  Patten's  Hall ; 
Thomas  Latham  pastor.  Free  Church  —  house  erected  by 
City  Missionary  Society  in  1851  ;  cost  $2000  ;  T.  P. 
Sawin  pastor. 

Schools.  —  There  are  nine  school  districts  in  the  city,  in 
each  of  which  is  only  one  house,  except  in  number  two, 
which  includes  the  most  thickly-settled  portion.  In  this 
district  are  four  spacious  brick  edifices,  containing  fourteen 


284  NEW  hampshir:e  as  it  is. 

schools,  and  six  smaller  buildings,  containing  ten  schools. 
The  board  of  instruction  is  divided  into  four  departments 
—  the  High  School,  in  which  are  a  principal  whose  salary 
is  $1000  per  annum,  and  two  assistants  ;  the  South  Gram- 
mar School,  having  a  principal  whose  salary  is  $600  per 
annum,  and  two  assistants  ;  the  North  Grammar  School, 
with  teachers,  a  principal  whose  salary  is  $600  per  an- 
num, and  two  assistaiits  ;  and  the  Intermediate  School, 
having  teachers,  a  principal  whose  salary  is  $500  per 
annum,  and  two  assistants.  There  are,  besides,  two  un- 
classed  schools,  seven  middle,  and  twelve  primary.  A 
free  school  is  open  four  evenings  in  the  week,  and  is  at- 
tended by  about  200  members.  Instruction  is  given  in 
reading,  spelling,  writing,  geography,  grammar,  and  arith- 
metic. 

Although,  in  glancing  at  the  educational  resources  of 
the  city  of  Manchester,  we  find  no  richly-endowed  acad- 
emies or  time-honored  seats  of  literature,  yet  we  discover  a 
system  which,  for  vigor  and  efficiency  in  reaching  the 
masses  and  scattering  the  light  and  treasures  of  knowledge 
in  those  dark  and  obscure  places,  —  scores  of  which  maybe 
found  in  any  city,  which  a  more  general,  and  perhaps,  at 
first,  more  attractive,  plan  of  instruction  would  entirely 
overlook,  —  is  not  only  deserving  of  universal  approval, 
but  also  reflects  great  credit  upon  those  who  were  able  to 
conceive  and  carry  it  to  practical  results. 

Manchester  AthetKCum.  —  Incorporated  in  1844.  The 
library  contains  3100  volumes.  An  extensive  reading 
room  is  connected  with  it.     Rooms  in  Patten's  Building. 

The  Fire  Department  consists  of  a  chief,  nine  assistant 
engineers,  six  engine  companies,  two  hose  do.,  and  one 
hook  and  ladder  do. 

Newspapers.  —  Manchester  American  and   Messenger  ; 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  286 

J.  Abbott  editor,  Manchester  Democrat ;  John  H.  Good- 
ale  editor.  Granite  Fanner  and  Visitor.  Manchester 
Daily  Mirror ;  John  B.  Clarke  editor.  Dollar  Weekly- 
Mirror  ;  by  the  same.  Union  Democrat ;  Campbell  & 
Gilman  editors. 

Railroads.  —  Nine  railroads  centre  in  Manchester  — 
the  Concord,  Northern,  Montreal,  Vermont  Central,  (in- 
cluding Vermont,  Canada,  and  Ogdensburg,)  Passumpsic, 
Merrimack  and  Connecticut  River,  jVIanchester  and  Law- 
rence, Contoocook  Valley,  and  New  Hampshire  Central. 
The  New  Hampshire  Central  and  Concord  and  Claremont 
are  merged  into  one,  under  the  name  of  the  Merrimack  and 
Connecticut  River  Railroad. 

Banks. — Amoskeag  Bank;  capital,  ^150,000;  incor- 
porated in  18-48.  City  Bank,  incorporated  in  1853  ;  capital, 
$100,000.  Manchester  Bank,  incorporated  in  1845  ;  cap- 
ital, $145,000.  Amoskeag  Savings  Bank  ;  amount  of  de- 
posits January  1,  1854,  $153,626.  Manchester  Savings 
Bank,  incorporated  in  1846  ;  amount  of  deposits,  .f!  100,000. 

Public  Houses.  —  Manchester  House,  Elm  Street,  cor- 
ner of  Merrimack,  by  William  Shepherd.  Franklin  Hotel, 
by  J.  Goodrich,  Manchester  Street.  City  Hotel,  by  Frank- 
lin Tenney,  Elm,  corner  of  Lowell  Street.  Elm  Street 
House,  by  D.  T.  Norris,  Elm,  corner  of  Concord  Street. 
Piscataquog  Hotel,  Piscataquog,  by  J.  B.  Leavitt,  south 
end  of  Main  Street.  Quimby's  Hotel,  by  Benjamin  B. 
Quimby,  head  of  Granite  Street.  Amoskeag  Hotel,  by  N. 
&  J.  B.  Quimby,  in  the  village  of  Amoskeag. 

By  a  recent  act  of  the  legislature,  the  villages  of  Amos- 
keag and  Piscataquog  have  been  annexed  to  Manchester. 

Squares.  —  Concord,  betAveen  Amherst  and  Concord 
Streets,  is  laid  out  with  gravelled  walks,  ornamented  with 
trees,  and  contains  a  circular  reservoir,  walled  in  with  stone. 


286  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS, 

Area,  4|  acres.  Hanover  contains  4  acres  of  land,  and  has 
a  large  open  reservoir.  Merrimack,  between  Merrimack 
and  Central  Streets,  contains  a  large  open  reservoir,  and 
includes  an  area  of  5|  acres.  Tremont,  between  Bridge 
and  High  Streets,  is  laid  out  with  gravelled  walks,  and  has 
a  covered  reservoir.  Area,  2^  acres.  The  Park  is  a  very 
pleasant  plot  of  ground,  situated  between  Park  and  Cedar 
Streets,  and  contains  3^  acres. 

The  Compajiy^s  Reservoir  is  situated  about  one  mile,  in 
a  north-easteily  direction,  from  the  City  Hall.  It  is  a  rec- 
tangular cistern,  484  by  234  feet  at  the  top  ;  depth  of 
water,  18  feet;  capacity,  11,000,000  gallons.  The  height 
above  the  river  is  150  feet.  The  object  is  to  supply  the 
mills  and  boarding  houses  with  water. 

In  addition  to  the  ponds  and  reservoirs  mentioned  above, 
there  are,  besides,  fourteen  other  cisterns  and  reservoirs 
located  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 

Manufacturing  Companies.  —  Amoskeag  Manufacturing 
Company ;  capital,  $3,000,000  ;  incorporated  in  July, 
1831  ;  commenred  operations  in  1837.  The  business  of 
this  company  is  divided  into  three  departments  —  viz.,  1st, 
land  and  water  power  ;  2d,  manufacturing  cotton  goods  ;  3d, 
machine  shop  —  each  department  having  a  separate  agency. 
Land  and  water  power  —  E.  A.  Straw  agent;  J.  Knowlton 
clerk.  Manufacturing  department,  Amoskeag  New  Mills  — 
David  Gillis  agent ;  Charles  liichardson  clerk.  Four  mills 
are  in  operation.  ■Mill  number  1  contains  8960  spindles 
and  234  looms  :  number  2,  8832  spindles  and  250  looms  ; 
number  3,  20,478  spindles  and  545  looms  ;  number  4, 
24,576  spindles  and  63()  looms;  total,  62,846  spindles 
and  1665  loom  ■:.  A  fifth  mill  is  in  process  of  erection, 
and  will  be  completed,  with  its  machinery,  the  coming 
winter.      This   mill  will  contain  20,000  spindles  and  480 


,  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  287 

looms  for  the  manufacture  of  fine  goods.  This  company 
has  a  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  batting.  They  have  also  a 
mill  in  Hooksett,  containing  8000  spindles.  The  goods 
manufactured  consist  of  seven  descriptions  of  tickings,  a 
great  variety  of  striped  denims,  drillings,  sheetings,  and 
cotton  flannels.  Number  of  yards  produced  annually, 
19,000,000.  Do.  pounds  of  cotton  consumed  annually, 
8,000,000  ;  do.  indigo,  35,000  ;  do.  potash,  80,000 ;  do. 
copperas,  44,000  ;  do.  madder,  65,000  ;  do.  tons  potato 
starch,  150  ;  do.  cords  Avood,  9000  ;  do.  gallons  sperm 
oil,  10,000.  Amount  annually  paid  out  at  the  mills, 
$600,000.  Xumber  of  hands  employed  —  males,  600  ; 
females,  1900  ;  total,  2500.  To  this  company  was  award- 
ed the  prize  medal  at  the  World's  Fair,  in  London,  for  the 
best  sheetings,  drillings,  tickings,  and  cotton  flannels  there 
exhibited. 

There  is  connected  with  this  department  a  savings  in- 
stitution, where  those  employed  by  the  company  may  de- 
posit their  surplus  earnings,  and  receive  five  per  cent, 
interest  per  annum.  The  amount  thus  deposited  January 
1,  1854,  was  $153,626.86,  payable  at  seven  days'  notice. 

Amoskeag  Machine  Shop  —  Oliver  W.  Bailey  agent ; 
Edward  Kendall  clerk.  Machinery  for  cotton  and  woollen 
mills,  locomotives,  &c.,  are  manufactured  here.  There  are 
three  shops,  and  one  foundery.  500  men  are  constantly 
employed.  There  are  consumed  annually  2000  tons  pig 
iron,  800  tons  bar  iron  and  steel,  100  tons  copper,  40  tons 
brass  castings,  250  tons  boiler  iron,  600  tons  Lehigh  .coal, 
600  tons  Cumberland  coal,  4000  bushels  charcoal,  4000 
gallons  oil,  and  700  cords  wood.  They  manufiicture  from 
three  to  four  locomotives  per  month,  and  pay  annually 
$200,000.      The  average  sura  paid  as  wages,  per  month,  is 


288  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

$12,000,  which  is  distributed  among  the  workmen  at  the 
rate  of  from  $40  to  $75  per  month. 

Manchester  Print  Works  —  incorporated  in  1839  ;  cap- 
ital, $1,800,000.  There  are  two  department::.  The  man- 
ufacturing department  consists  of  two  mills.  Waterman 
Smith  agent;  J.  S.  Shannon  clerk.  In  both  mills  are 
56,000  spindles  and  1450  looms.  Number  of  hands  em- 
ployed —  males,  400  ;  females,  1200  ;  total,  1600.  Num- 
ber of  yards  produced  per  annum,  14,000,000.  The  goode 
manufactured  consist  of  mousseline  de  laines,  cashmeres, 
Persian  cloths,  barege  de  laines,  and  cotton  printing  cloths. 
Number  of  pounds  of  wool  consumed  annually,  1,300,000; 
do.  cotton,  1,800,000  ;  do.  cords  wood,  2000 ;  do.  tons 
coal,  1000  ;  do.  gallons  sperm  oil,  5000 ;  do.  gallons  olive 
oil,  2000  ;  do.  pounds  oil  soap,  80,000  ;  do.  tons  starch. 
60.  Amount  annually  paid  out,  .$450,000.  Printing  de- 
partment —  Charles  II.  Dalton  superintendent ;  A.  N. 
Baker  clerk.  These  works  were  destroyed  by  fire  Septem- 
ber 22,  1853.  Loss,  $250,000.  Rebuilding  was  com- 
menced immediately.  Printing  started  in  the  ne\\  works 
June  12,  1854,  being  8  months  and  21  days  from  the 
date  of  the  fire.  Number  of  printing  machines,  12.  Do. 
hands  employed  —  males,  350  ;  females,  30  ;  total,  380. 
Do.  yards  printed  per  day,  45,000,  consisting  of  mousseline 
de  laines,  cashmeres,  Persian  cloths,  barege  de  laines,  and 
madder  cotton  prints.  Value  of  drugs  consumed  annually, 
$400,000.  Number  of  tons  of  coal  consumed  annually. 
3000.  Pay  roll  and  incidental  expenses  per  annum, 
$180,000. 

Stark  Mills  —  i*hineas  Adams  agent ;  William  B.  Web- 
ster clerk.  Incorporated  in  1838  ;  commenced  operations  in 
1839.     Capital,  $1,250,000.     There  are  two  mills.     Num- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMfSHIRE. 

ber  1  mill  contains  21,400  spindles,  and  460  looms  for 
sheetings,  and  126  for  seamless  bags.  Number  2  mill 
contains  19,564  spindles,  and  550  looms  for  sheetings  and 
drillings.  The  goods  manufactured  consist  of  sheetings, 
drillings,  and  seamless  bags.  Number  of  males  employed, 
200  ;  do.  females,  950.  Amount  of  money  paid  at  mills 
per  month,  $30,000.  Consume  annually  1,000,000  cubic 
feet  of  gas,  5880  gallons  oil,  75  tons  starch,  1000  tons 
coal,  and  6,000,000  pounds  cotton.  Manufacture  annu- 
ally 1,320,000  bags,  8,000,000  yards  sheetings,  and  500,- 
000  yards  drillings. 

Blodgett  Edge  Tool  Company  —  incorporated  in  1853  ; 
capital  stock,  $100,000;  J.  G.  Cilley  agent.  Manufac- 
ture all  kinds  of  edge  tools.  Employ  125  hands.  Dimen- 
sions of  building,  160  feet  long,  50  wide,  and  three  stories 

high- 
Manchester  Iron  Company.  Capital  stock,  $20,000  ; 
president,  J.  N.  B.  Fish  ;  treasurer,  J.  T.  P.  Hunt ;  clerk, 
David  Hill.  Commenced  operations  in  October,  1853. 
The  ii.din  building  is  75  feet  long  by  50  wide,  with  an 
engine  house,  pattern  shop,  &c.,  adjoining,  40  feet  long  by 
60  broad.  The  engine  is  of  40  horse  power.  Located 
near  the  gas  works  and  the  Manchester  and  Lawrence  Rail- 
road. Manufacture  all  sorts  of  castings  for  mills  and  other 
purposes. 

Blodgett  Paper  Company.  Capital,  $300,000  ;  manu- 
facture 15,000  rolls  .paper  hangings  per  day,  16  tons  paper 
per  week  ;  employ  175  hands.  Dimensions  of  building  — 
200  feet  long  by  50  wide,  five  stories  high,  with  an  ell  65 
by  55  :  second  building  —  200  feet  long  by  30  wide  ;  all 
brick.  An  additional  building,  100  feet  long  by  30  wide, 
and  three  stories  high,  is  in  process  of  erection. 

B.  F.  Martin's  Paper  Mill.      Dimensions    of   building, 


290  NPW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

50  feet  long  by  90  in  height ;  3  stories  high  ;  built  of 
brick.  Manufacture  300  tons  paper  annually.  Value, 
$82,500.     Number  of  hands  employed,  20. 

Manchester  Gas  Light  Company.  Capital,  f  90,000. 
President,  Robert  Read  ;  superintendent,  J.  T.  P.  Hunt ; 
clerk,  H.  Foster.  Incorporated  in  1851;  commenced  oper- 
ations in  September,  1852.  These  works  are  situated  in 
the  southerly  part  of  the  city,  near  the  Manchester  and 
Lawrence  Railroad.  The  main  buildings  are  of  brick,  with 
slated  roofs.  The  retort  house  is  105  feet  in  length,  30 
feet  in  width,  and  18  feet  in  height.  It  contains  12 
benches,  each  having  3  retorts,  with  a  corresponding  num- 
ber of  coolers  and  washers.  The  purifying  house  is  65 
feet  in  length  by  25  feet  in  width ;  it  contains  purifiers, 
meters,  offices,  &c.  The  gasometer  is  87i  feet  in  diameter, 
25  feet  in  height,  and  is  of  sufficient  capacity  for  the  sto- 
rage of  150,000  cubic  feet  of  gas.  The  tank  is  90  feet  in 
diameter,  25  feet  deep,  and  is  substantially  built  of  brick 
and  cement,  with  counter  forts.  Over  the  gasometer  has 
been  erected  a  building  97  feet  square  and  27  feet  in 
height.  The  coal  shed  is  so  located  that  the  coal  is 
dumped  from  the  cars  directly  through  the  roof.  Ten 
miles  of  pipe,  varying  from  14  to  2  inches  in  diameter, 
have  been  laid,  extending  to  different  parts  of  the  city. 
By  means  of  the  works  now  in  operation,  the  company  are 
able  to  furnish  150,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  in  every  24 
hours,  though  the  pipes  are  of  sufficient  capacity  and 
strength  to  distribute  double  that  quantity.  1100  tons  of 
Pictou,  Cannel,  and  Hillsborough  coill  have  been  consumed 
during  the  past  year,  producing  in  that  time  8,837,000 
cubic  feet  of  gas,  about  one  half  of  which  is  consumed  by 
the  various  manufacturing  establishments  and  mills.  These 
use  4705  burners,  besides  40  street  lamps  ;  diffisrent  indi- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  391 

viduals,  2717  burners  ;  and  the  city  authorities  furnish 
25  street  lamps.  Coke  —  whicli  is  coal  deprived  of  its 
volatile  principle  —  is  sold  at  about  five  dollars  per  chal- 
dron. About  1500  bushels  of  the  hydrate  of  lime  are  sold 
fram  these  works  per  annum,  at  eight  cents  per  bushel, 
which  is  made  from  oyster  shells,  and,  by  its  connection  with 
ammonia  in  the  process  of  purification,  becomes  far  superior 
to  common  lime  for  land  dressing,  and  is  eagerly  sought 
after  by  agriculturists.  The  gas  is  sold  at  the  rate  of 
$3.50  per  1000  cubic  feet. 

The  gasworks  were  constructed  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  J.  T.  P.  Hunt,  then  and  now  superintendent ;  and,  in 
beaiity  of  architecture,  substantial  finish,  and  skilful  ar- 
rangement of  machinery  for  the  ends  proposed,  are  consid- 
ered as  superior  to  any  similar  works  in  New  England. 

There  are  also  about  350  stores,  groceries,  and  shops  of 
various  kinds  within  the  limits  of  the  city. 

The  rapidity  of  the  growth  of  the  city  of  Manchester 
—  which  is  as  healthy  as  it  is  rapid  —  is  unparalleled,  at 
least  in  New  England.  Figures  and  statistics  which  to- 
day are  a  true  representation  of  its  condition,  are  not  so 
to-morrow ;  and  it  is,  indeed,  of  but  little  consequence  to 
record  them,  excepting  that  they  may  serve  as  milestones, 
to  guide  the  stranger  from  the  obscure  hamlet  and  the 
times  of  small  things  to  the  flourishing  city  and  the  period 
of  magnificent  prosperity. 

Marlborough,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Roxbury,  east  by  Dubliii  and  JafFrey,  south  by  Troy,  and 
west  by  Swanzcy  and  Keene.  Area,  about  13,000  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  55  miles,  south-west;  from  Keene, 
6,  south.  There  are  several  ponds,  which  are  the  sources 
of  some  of  the  branches  of  the  Ashuelot.     The  surface  is 


292  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

broken  ;  the  soil  rocky,  but  excellent  for  grazing.  Various 
branches  of  manufacturing  are  carried  on  to  some  extent 
here.  There  are  four  pail  factories,  in  which  35  hands  are 
employed  ;  one  box  and  measure  factory,  eight  hands ;  one 
machine  shop,  16  hands  ;  one  box  and  tray  factory,  five 
hands  ;  one  chair  factory,  four  hands  ;  one  earthen  ware 
shop,  four  hands  ;  one  faucet  manufactory,  four  hands  ;  and 
one  yarn  factory,  five  hands.  There  are  also  two  stores, 
three  meeting  houses,  and  one  hotel. 

Marlborough  was  granted,  April  29,  1751,  to  Timothy 
Dwight  and  61  others.  By  reason  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  the  conditions  of  the  charter  were 
not  seasonably  fulfilled  ;  the  first  charter  was  forfeited,  and 
a  second  granted  September  21,  1754.  First  settlers,  Wil- 
liam Barker,  Abel  Woodward,  Benjamin  Tucker,  Daniel 
Goodenough,  and  one  McAlister. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1778.  At 
present  there  is  also  a  Baptist  and  a  Universalist  society. 

Population,  887.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
225.  Inventory,  $321,156.  Value  of  lands,  $179,374. 
Stock  in  trade,  $4441.  Value  of  mills,  factories,  &c., 
$12,225.  Money  on  hand,  &c.,  $40,830.  Number  of 
sheep,  608.     Do.  neat  stock,  804.     Do.  horses,  152. 

Marlow,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Acworth 
and  Lempster,  east  by  Washington  and  Stoddard,  south  by 
Gilsum,  and  west  by  Alstead.  Area,  15,937  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  45  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene,  15, 
north.  Ashuelot  River  passes  through  nearly  the  whole 
length  of  the  town,  in  a  south-westerly  direction.  The  soil  is 
moist,  but  productive.  On  the  Ashuelot  and  other  streams 
are  large  tracts  of  valuable  interval.  The  sm-face  is  gener- 
ally uneven.     This  town  was  gi-anted,  October  7,  1761,  to 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  393 

William  Noyes  and  69  others.  First  settlers,  Joseph 
Tubbs,  N.  Royce,  N.  Miller,  Nathan  Huntley,  Solomon 
Mack,  Solomon  Gee,  Eben  Lewis,  Samuel  and  John  Gustin, 
and  others.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  March, 
1776.  The  first  inhabitants  were  Baptists  ;  they  formed  a 
church,  and  settled  Eev.  Caleb  Blood,  in  January,  1778. 
There  is  at  present  only  a  Methodist  society. 

Population,  708.  Number  of  polls,  190.  Inventory, 
$290,308.  Value  of  lands,  $151,497.  Do.  mills,  fac- 
tories, &c.,  $4675.  Stock  in  trade,  $9423.  Money  on 
hand,  at  interest,  &c.,  $45,466.  Number  of  sheep,  1839. 
Do.  neat  stock,  847.     Do.  horses,  179. 

Mason,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Tem- 
ple and  Wilton,  east  by  Milford  and  Brookline,  south  by 
Ashby,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  New  Ipswich.  Area, 
18,860  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  43  miles,  south ; 
from  Amherst,  15,  soiith-west.  This  is  a  hilly  and  healthy 
township.  There  are  no  swamps  or  stagnant  pools,  and 
only  one  small  pond.  The  soil  is  good.  In  the  south  and 
east  parts  of  the  town  chestnut  and  pine  abound.  Souhe- 
gan  River  is  the  principal  stream,  and  affords  many  fine 
mill  sites.  It  is  divided  into  nine  school  districts,  and 
supports  ten  schools.  Education  receives  considerable 
attention.  There  are  four  religious  societies  —  viz.,  two 
Congregational,  one  Christian,  and  one  Baptist.  The  prin- 
cipal village  is  situated  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town, 
on  the  Souhegan.  Here  are  some  of  the  best  water  privi- 
leges in  this  section  of  the  state.  The  water  at  this  place 
falls  80  feet  in  a  distance  of  80  rods,  and  is  easily  made 
available  for  manufacturing  purposes.  There  is  already  a 
large  cotton  factory  in  operation,  and  another  is  to  be 
erected  M'ithin  a  few  months.  A  large  portion  of  the  water 
25* 


294  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

power  is  yet  unappropriated.  Natural  facilities,  together 
with  the  disposition  now  evinced  to  develop  them,  render 
it  highly  probable  that  this  will  soon  be  a  place  of  consid- 
erable business.  The  village  is  the  present  terminus  of 
the  Peterborough  and  Shirley  Railroad.  The  railroad 
bridge  just  below  the  village  is  one  of  the  most  splendid 
and  substantial  structures  of  the  kind  in  New  England. 
The  scenery  about  the  village  is  beautifully  picturesque. 

The  Columbian  Manufacturing  Company,  Mason  Vil- 
lage —  Robert  B.  Williams  president ;  Stephen  Smith  agent. 
Capital  stock,  $200,000.  Number  of  shares,  200;  par 
value,  $1000.  Do.  spindles,  6200.  Do.  looms,  175.  Do. 
hands  employed  —  males,  106;  females,  130;  total,  236. 
Amount  of  stock  consumed  annually,  750,000  pounds. 
Number  of  yards  produced  per  annum,  1,950,000.  Kind 
of  goods,  colored  cottons.     Number  yarn,  14. 

Asher  Peabody,  manufacturer  of  shoes,  employs  25 
hands. 

Amos  Scripture,  agent,  manufacturer  of  japanned  tin- 
ware. First  established  in  1833.  Number  of  hands  em- 
ployed, 12. 

There  are  two  gristmills,  five  sawmills,  two  hotels,  five 
stores,  two  blacksmith,  and  two  cabinet  shops. 

This  town  was  granted  August  26,  1768.  It  was  for- 
merly known  by  the  name  of  Number  One.  The  first  eftbrt 
to  settle  here  was  made  in  1751 ;  and  in  the  following 
year  Enoch  Lawrence  made  a  permanent  settlement.  The 
Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1772 ;  the  Baptist 
society  was  organized  in  1786. 

Population,  1626.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 335. 
Do.  houses,  313.  Do.  families,  346.  Do.  farms,  168. 
Inventory,  $483,256.  Value  of  lands,  $262,606.  Stock 
in  trade,  $17,700.  Number  of  sheep,  254.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1069.     Do.  horses,  173. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  295 

Meredith,  Belknap  county,  liounded  north  by  Cen- 
tre Harbor,  east  by  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  south  by  a 
river  of  the  same  name  and  Sanbornton,  and  west  by 
Sanbornton  Bay  and  New  Hampton.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 29  miles,  north,  by  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad.  It  was  incorporated  December  30,  1768, 
and  was  first  called  New  Salem. 

This  is  a  very  large  township,  covering  an  area  of  near- 
ly 13  square  miles.  Several  pleasant  and  thriving  villages 
are  scattered  over  its  limits.  At  Meredith  Village  there  are 
four  meeting  houses,  five  stores,  one  hotel,  and  several  shoe 
shops.  On  a  small  stream  which  flows  through  this  place 
from  Mcasley  Pond  into  Winnipiseogee  Lake  are  a  large  tan- 
nery, a  gristmill,  sawmill,  and  a  manufactory  v.here  the  wood- 
work of  pianos  is  prepared,  in  which  about  50  hands  are 
employed.  At  Meredith  Centre  are  u  meeting  house  belong- 
ing to  a  Freewill  Baptist  society,  one  saw  and  gristmill,  and 
three  stores ;  and  about  a  mile  distant  is  a  Baptist  meeting 
house.  Lake  Village,  pleasantly  situated  at  the  foot  of  Long 
Bay,  which  at  the  Wicrs  forms  the  outlet  of  Winnipiseogee 
Lake,  is  a  thriving  manufacturing  district,  containing  about 
1500  inhabitants.  Here  is  a  large  cotton  warp  manuflictory  ; 
Robert  Thompson  agent.  Number  of  spindles,  2200.  Do. 
pounds  manufactured  per  annum,  78,000.  Do.  pounds 
consumed  annually,  100,000.     Do.  hands  employed,  30. 

Knitting  and  Hosiery  Manufactory  —  Lyman  B.  Pulce- 
fer  president.  Number  of  spindles,  500.  Do.  pounds  of 
goods  manufactured  annually,  25,000.  Do.  pounds  of 
raw  material  consumed  per  annum,  40,000.  Do.  hands 
employed,  12. 

Iron  Foundery  and  Machine  Shop  —  Cale,  Davis,  &  Co. 
Capital    stock,    $40,000*     Manufiicture    ploughs,    stoves. 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

machinery,    and    castings.      Number    of    men    employed, 
60. 

Levi  Stevens,  coppersmith  and  brass  founder. 

There  are  also  three  meeting  houses,  eight  stores,  one 
hotel,  four  shoe  factories,  two  carriage  shops,  and  one  bed- 
stead manufactory. 

Yarn  Manufactory  —  Moses  Sargent  president ;  J.  M. 
Sai-gent  clerk.  Capital  stock,  ^7000.  Goods  manufac- 
tured, knitting  and  hosiery  yarn.  Has  1000  spindles. 
Number  of  pounds  of  goods  manufactured  annually,  50,000. 
Value  of  stock  consumed  annually,  1580,000.  Hands  em- 
ployed, 25.  There  ai'e  also  connected  with  this  establish- 
ment three  sets  of  woollen  cards. 

Meredith  Bridge  is  the  principal  village.  It  is  connect- 
ed by  a  bridge  over  the  Winnipiseogee  River  with  Gilford 
Village,  and  both  are  called  Meredith  Bridge.  This  is  a 
flourishing  manufacturing  village,  and  the  seat  of  much 
business.  On  the  Meredith  side  are  a  large,  well-constructed, 
and  handsome  hotel ;  a  meeting  house,  belonging  to  the  Con- 
gregational society ;  a  large  car  factory,  in  which  are  em- 
ployed about  75  men  ;  a  ptxil  and  bedstead  factory  ;  a  cotton 
mill,  in  which  70  operatives  are  employed,  the  pro][iei"ty  of 
which  is  estimated  at  $30,000  ;  a  woollen  factory,  in  which 
30  hands  are  employed ;  capital,  |>  10,000.  There  are 
also  ten  stores,  two  jewellers'  shops,  and  two  furniture 
warehouses.  The  county  of  Belknap  has  recently  pur- 
chased a  large  farm  on  the  Meredith  side,  and  has  erected 
upon  it  spacious  and  convenient  buildings,  at  a  cost  of  about 
."$5000,  for  the  support  and  employment  of  county  paupers. 
A  county  jail,  to  be  built  of  granite  throughout,  is  also  in 
process  of  erection  on  the  same  grounds. 

The  Belknap  Gazette  and  the  New  Hampshire  Demo 
crat,  weekly  newspapers,  are  published  here. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

On  the  Guilford  side  are  a  large  cotton  mill,  where  tick- 
ings are  manufactured  ;  capital,  $40,000 ;  number  of 
hands  employed,  60  ;  a  peg  factory,  in  which  30  hands 
are  employed  ;  a  sculptor's  shop,  a  court  house,  two  meeting 
houses,  two  stores,  two  hotels,  one  saw,  and  one  gristmill. 
As  a  farming  town,  Meredith  is  surpassed  by  but  few 
towns  in  the  state.  The  soil  is  generally  deep,  fertile,  and 
easily  cultivated.  Within  a  few  years  past,  considerable 
attention  has  been  paid  to  agricidture.  In  many  places  the 
scenery  is  beautiful  and  romantic.  As  the  traveller  passes 
along  the  road  leading  through  the  north-Avesterly  j^art  of 
the  toAvn,  he  beholds  spread  out  before  him  a  lovely  picture 
of  Nature.  On  the  east  and  south-east,  the  placid  waters  of 
the  largest  lake  in  New  Hampshire,  with  its  countless 
islands,  arrest  the  eye,  stretching  in  a  south-easterly  direc- 
tion beyond  the  reach  of  vision.  On  the  north-east,  Ossipee 
rises  majestically  from  its  rugged  base ;  while  towards  the 
north  is  seen  Red  Hill  —  an  eminence  Avell  known  to 
travellers.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  lake  Indian  relics  are 
often  found.  Meredith  Bridge  is  one  of  the  pleasantest 
villages  in  the  state.  Many  of  the  houses  are  large,  and 
handsoiup  in  structure.  The  cemetery  is  one  of  those 
charming  spots  that  always  attract  the  eye  and  elicit  the 
admiration  of  the  stranger.  It  is  beautifully  located  be- 
side the  Winnipiseogee  River,  and  is  laid  out  with  taste  and 
care. 

The  population  of  Meredith,  at  present,  is  about  3800. 
Number  of  legal  voters,  929.  Inventory  in  1852, 
$899,851.  Value  of  lands,  $532,972.  Do.  factories, 
mills,  &c.,  $21,600.  Money  on  hand,  at  interest,  &c., 
$32,972.  Value  of  shares  in  banks  and  other  corpora- 
tions, $29,600.  Number  of  sheep,  2100.  Do.  neat  stock, 
2133.     Do.  horses,  376. 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Merrimack,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Bedford,  east  by  Litchfield,  south  by  Nashua,  and  west  by 
Amherst.  Area,  19,361  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
27  miles,  south ;  from  Amherst,  6,  east.  Merrimack  River 
laves  its  entire  eastern  border,  and  affords  communication  by 
water  with  Boston  ;  which,  however,  is  of  but  little  impor- 
tance, since  the  Nashua  and  LoAvell  Railroad  passes  through 
the  town,  parallel  with  the  river.  The  Souhegan,  after 
winding  through  this  town  in  an  easterly  direction,  dis- 
charges its  waters  into  the  Merrimack,  affording  in  its 
course  many  valuable  mill  privileges,  some  of  the  best  of 
which  are  unoccupied. 

The  surface  is  generally  level,  broken  by  a  few  moderate 
swells.  The  soil  in  many  parts  is  very  fertile,  especially 
the  intervals  along  the  river.  Merrimack  claims  the  honor 
of  having  first  discovered  the  art  of  making  Leghorn  bon- 
nets. Some  of  the  first  manufacture  were  sold  at  the  price 
of  $50  apiece.  The  manufacturing  interest  is  here  exhib- 
ited on  a  moderate  scale,  it  being  almost  wholly  confined 
to  two  carpet  factories,  which  in  themselves  arc  truly  de- 
serving of  great  credit.  The  energetic  spirit  which  has 
recently  manifested  itself  in  efforts  for  improven»ent  and 
progress  in  education  is  highly  praiseworthy.  There  are 
four  stores,  four  sawmills,  two  gristmills,  three  wheel- 
wrights' shops,  four  blacksmiths'  shops,  and  two  meeting 
houses.  This  town  was  first  called  Souhegan  East.  It 
was  incorporated  April  2,  1746,  though  it  had  already  been 
settled  13  years. 

The  first  house  in  town  was  erected  several  years  before 
any  permanent  settlement  was  made,  and  was  occupied  as 
a  place  of  traffic  with  the  Indians.  It  was  called  Crom- 
well's House,  being  owned  by  John  Cromwell,  from  Eng- 
land.    For  a  long  time  he  carried  on  a  profitable  trade 


**» 


GAZETTEEK    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  299 

with  the  Indians  in  the  purchase  of  their  furs,  -weighing 
them  with  his  foot  in  the  opposite  scale,  until  the  latter, 
having  discovered  his  trick,  and  chagrined  at  the  deception 
practised  upon  them,  formed  the  determination  to  kill  him. 
This  design  was  made  known  to  Cromwell,  who  buried  his 
ill-gotten  wealth  and  made  his  escape.  Within  a  short 
time  after  his  flight  a  party  of  the  Pcnnacook  tribe  made 
their  appearance,  and,  not  finding  him,  burned  his  house. 

The  name  of  the  town  is  derived  from  the  river  on  which 
it  is  situated.  It  was  originally  written  Monnomoke,  and 
Merramake,  which  latter  is  the  term  used  by  the  Pennacook 
tribe,  and  in  the  Indian  language  signifies  sturgeon.  Fish 
of  this  kind  were  formerly  abundant  in  this  stream. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  here  September 
5,  1772. 

Population,  1250.  Number  of  polls,  313.  Inventory, 
$501,840.  Value  of  lands,  $298,190.  Do.  stock  in 
trade,  $34,138.  Do.  mills,  factories,  &c.,  $9150.  Money 
on  hand,  at  interest,  &c.,  $22,800.  Number  of  sheep, 
368.     Do.  neat  stock,  802.     Do.  horses,  141. 

MiCDLETOX,  Strafford  county.  Bovinded  north  by 
Brookfield  and  Wakefield,  east  by  Milton,  south  by  Mil- 
ton and  New  Durham,  and  west  by  New  Durham.  Area, 
9840  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  north-east ; 
from  Dover,  25,  north-west.  This  is  a  very  level  township. 
There  are  no  elevations  excepting  a  part  of  ^Nloose,  or  Bald, 
Mountain,  which  separates  it  from  Brookfield.  There  are 
no  ponds  or  rivers  of  note.  The  soil  is  rocky  and  sterile. 
There  are  one  meeting  house,  owned  by  the  Freewill  Bap- 
tist sociefy,  two  stores,  and  one  hotel.  It  was  incorporated 
March  4,  1778. 

Population,  476.     Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 130. 


300  ♦  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Inventory,  $128,512.     Value  of  lands,  $78,305.     Num- 
ber of  sheep,  273.     Do.  neat  stock,  524.     Do.  horses,  83. 

Milan,  Coiis  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dummer,  east 
by  Success,  south  by  Berlin,  and  M'est  by  Kilkenny  and 
Stark.  Area,  31,15-1  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  150 
miles,  north-east ;  from  Lancaster,  22,  north-east.  The 
Androscoggin  River  passes  through  the  eastern  part.  Its 
tributaries  here  are  the  Chickwalneppee,  Leavett,  and 
Stearns  Rivers.  There  is  but  one  pond  of  any  consider- 
able size,  which  is  called  Cedar  Pond.  The  surface  is  un- 
even, and  in  some  parts  rocky,  though  there  are  no  moun- 
tains. The  soil  is  various.  There  are  seven  sawmills  in 
this  town,  in  four  of  which  40  hands  are  employed;  ag- 
gregate capital,  $51,000.  There  are  three  stores,  one 
hotel,  and  one  meeting  house,  which  is  owned  by  the 
Methodist  society.  It  was  granted,  December  31,  1771,  to 
Su-  William  Mayne  and  others,  under  the  name  of  Pauls- 
burg,  which  name  was  retained  until  1824. 

Population,  493.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 153. 
Inventory,  .$106,346.  Value  of  lands,  $54,416.  Do. 
mills,  &c.,  $2400.  Stock  in  trade,  $1600.  Number  of 
sheep,  707.     Do.  neat  stock,  617.     Do.  horses,  80.     ' 

MiLFORD,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Lyndeborough,  Mont  Vernon,  and  Amherst,  east  by  Am- 
herst and  Hollis,  south  by  HolHs  and  BrOokline,  and  west 
by  Mason  and  Wilton.  Area,  15,402  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  31  miles,  south;  from  Amherst,  5,  south- 
west. Milford  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  Souhegan  River, 
which  runs  in  an  easterly  direction,  affording  tnany  fine 
water  privileges.  The  intervals  along  its  course  are  about 
half  a  mile  in  width,  and  are  very  fertile.     Large  quan- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  301 

titles  of  excellent  fruit  are  produced  here  annually.  The 
surface  is  moderately  uneven  ;  the  soil  is  productive.  On 
account  of  improvements  made  in  its  water  power,  it  has 
recently  grown  into  considerable  importance.  The  inhab- 
itants are  noted  for  sobriety,  thrift,  and  industry. 

The  Souhegan  Manufacturing  Company  were  incorporat- 
ed in  June,  184G.  Capital  stock,  $150,000.  Number  of 
spindles,  5000.  Do.  looms,  128,  The  kind  of  goods  man- 
ufactured is  ticking.  Number  of  yards  manufactured  per 
annum,  1,100,000.  Eaw  material  consumed  per  annum, 
480,000  pounds  cotton.  Number  of  hands  employed, 
160.  The  machinery  is  driven  by  steam  and  water  power. 
Moses  French  agent ;  D.  S.  Burnham  clerk. 

The  Milford  ^lanufacturing  Company  were  incorporated 
in  1810.  Capital,  $30,000.  Number  of  spindles,  900. 
Do.  looms,  30.  The  kind  of  goods  manufactured  is  tick- 
ing. Number  of  yards  produced  per  annum,  250,000. 
Do.  pounds  cotton  consumed,  100,000.  Do.  hands  em- 
ployed, 40.  There  is  also  a  sawmill  connected  with  this 
establishment,,  in  which  400,000  feet  of  lumber  are  man- 
ufactured per  annum.     Hiram  A.  Daniels  agent  and  clerk. 

The  Milford  Plane  Company  employ  50  hands.  Year- 
ly business  amounts  to  $50,000.  The  celebrated  eagle 
plane  is  manufactured  here. 

There  are  also  two  tinware  manufactories,  one  employ- 
ing 15  hands,  and  the  other  2  ;  three  boot  and  shoe  man- 
ufactories, where  about  75  hands  are  employed  ;  two  car- 
riage shops,  one  employing  20  hands,  and  the  other  8 ; 
one  iron  foundery,  in  which  are  engaged  35  hands  ;  two 
tanneries,  employing  12  hands ;  one  manufactory  of  agri- 
cultural implements,  in  which  35  hands  are  employed  ; 
one  furniture  shop,  employing  6  hands  ;  two  tailors'  shops, 
employing  14  hands ;  and  one  printing  and  bookbinding 
26 


302  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

establishment.  There  are  also  seven  stores,  one  hotel,  and 
two  meeting  houses  —  one  Congregational,  organized  in 
1788  ;  and  one  Baptist,  organized  September  5,  1809. 

Milford  was  incorporated  January  11,  1794.  The  first 
» settlers  were  John  Burns,  William  Peabody,  Benjamin 
Hopkins,  Caleb  Jones,  Nathan  Hutchinson,  Andrew  Brad- 
ford, Captain  Josiah  Crosby,  and  William  Wallace.  Cap- 
tain Crosby  was  a  revolutionary  officer. 

Population,  2159.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
529.  Inventory,  |884,960.  Value  of  lands,  $493,365. 
Do.  mills,  fiictories,  &c.,  $75,000.  Do.  stock  in  trade, 
$46,750.  Money  on  hand,  at  interest,  &c.,  $55,493. 
Number  of  sheep,  139.  Do.  neat  stock,  989.  Do.  horses, 
277. 

MiT.LSFiEi-D,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dixville, 
east  by  Errol,  south  by  Dummer,  and  west  by  ungranted 
lands  and  Dixville.  Area,  23,200  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  150  miles,  north;  from  Lancaster,  35,  north- 
east. Clear  Stream  waters  its  northern  extremity,  and 
Phillips  River  and  other  small  streams  its  other  parts. 
There  arc  several  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  is  300  rods 
long  and  140  wide.  Its  northern  portion  is  mountainous. 
The  surface  is  generally  uneven,  and  the  soil  strong,  but 
,  somewhat  cold.  This  town  was  granted,  March  1,  1774, 
to  Sir  Thomas  Mills,  George  Boyd,  and  others. 

Population,  2. 

Mii.TON,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north-west  by 
Middlcton  and  Wakefield,  east  by  Salmon  Falls  lliver, 
which  separates  it  from  Lebanon,  Maine,  and  south-west 
by  Farmington  and  New  Durham.  Area,  25,000  acrea. 
Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  north-east ;  from  Dover, 


G.\ZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  30^ 

20,  north-west.  Salmon  Falls  River  washes  its  whole  east- 
ern border  for  a  distance  of  13  miles.  A  branch  of  this 
river  passes  through  its  northern  extremity.  Milton  Pond 
lies  at  the  foot  of  Tencriffe  Mountain  —  a  bold  and  rocky 
elevation,  which  extends  along  its  eastern  section.  The  soil 
is  generally  good,  the  surfice  somewhat  broken,  and  affords 
excellent  pasturage.  The  inhabitants  are  mostly  engaged 
in  farming. 

Milton  !Mills  —  John  Townsend  proprietor  ;  capital, 
$50,000  ;  manufacture  flannels  ;  have  18  looms  and  1200 
spindles.  Amount  manufactured  per  annum,  {^90,000. 
Do.  stock  used  per  annum,  120,000  pounds  wool.  Num- 
ber of  operatives,  35. 

This  town  was  formerly  a  part  of  Rochester,  from  which 
it  was  taken  and  incorporated  June  11,  1802.  There  are 
two  meeting  houses  —  one  Congregational,  and  one  Chris- 
tian. 

Population,  1629.  Number  of  polls,  406.  Inventory, 
$414,982.  Value  of  lands,  $236,265.  Do.  mills  and 
factories,  $8500.  Do.  stock  in  trade,  $10,730.  Money 
at  interest,  &c.,  $12,939.  Number  of  sheep,  708.  Do. 
neat  stock,  1264.     Do.  horses,  189. 

MoxKOE,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Littleton, 
east  by  Lyman,  south  by  Bath,  and  west  by  Barnet,  Ver- 
mont. This  town  formerly  constituted  the  western  portion 
of  Lyman,  from  which  it  was  separated  and  incorporated 
July  13,  1854.  The  surface  is  broken,  and  in  some  parts 
hilly,  and  affords  excellent  grazing.  The  soil  is  generally 
good,  and  produces,  with  proper  cultivation,  the  grasses  and 
grains  in  abundance.  The  Avestern  slope  of  Gardner's 
Mountain  produces  excellent  grass  and  wheat.  There  is 
considerable  interval.     Within  the  limits  of  tliis  town  are 


304  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

the  Narrows,  at  which  place  the  river  is  only  five  rods 
in  width,  being  confined  by  walls  of  slate.  The  scenery  is 
grand  and  picturesque.  Near  the  north-Avestern  extremity 
of  the  town,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Connecticut  and  Pas- 
sumpsic  Rivers,  the  former  assumes  the  shape  of  a  dia- 
mond, its  greatest  width  being  about  one  mile,  encircling 
20  islands,  and  affording  a  delightful  landscape. 

There  are  several  sawmills  here,  at  some  of  which  an 
extensive  business  is  carried  on.  In  one  of  these,  during 
the  month  of  June,  1854,  were  manufactured  724,141  feet 
of  lumber,  &c.  Number  of  hands  employed,  35.  There 
are  also  a  carriage  factory  and  machine  shop,  where  a  large 
business  is  carried  on.  Bog  iron  ore  and  zinc  and  copper 
ore  are  found  here  in  various  localities. 

There  are  two  stores,  one  hotel,  and  one  meeting  house. 

Population  in  1854,  about  750.  Number  of  legal 
voters,  156. 

Mont  Vernon,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north 
by  New  Boston,  east  by  Amherst,  south  by  Amherst  and 
Milford,  and  west  by  Lyndeborough.  Area,  7975  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  28  miles,  south  ;  from  Amherst, 
3,  north-west.  There  is  but  one  stream  of  any  note.  It 
rises  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  passes  into  Am- 
herst, near  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  plain.  That  part 
of  the  stream  near  its  mouth  was  called  by  the  Indians 
Quohquinapassakessanannagnog.  The  soil  is  strong  and 
productive  —  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  various 
grasses  and  grains.  The  situation  is  elevated,  and  the  sur- 
face uneven.  The  village  is  located  upon  the  highest  ele- 
vation, and  is  healthy  and  pleasant.  It  was  originally  a 
part  of  Amherst,  from  which  it  was  scpnrated  and  incorpo- 
rated December  15,  1803. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW   HAMP8HI11E.  305 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  here  in  1780. 
There  are  four  stores,  two  hotels,  and  twelve  shops  and 
mills  of  various  kinds.  Tliere  is  a  writing  desk  and  fancy- 
box  manufactory,  owned  by  Messrs.  Bragg  &  Conant,  in 
which  30  hands  are  employed. 

Population,  122.  Number  of  polls,  1T6.  Inventory, 
$262,256.  Value  of  lands,  1 107,026.  Stock  in  trade, 
$7200.  Money  at  interest,  &c.,  $11,764.  Number  of 
sheep,  86.     Do.  neat  stock,  624.     Do.  horses,  89. 

MouLTONBOROUGii,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Sandwich  and  Ossipee,  east  by  Ossipec,  soiitli  by  Tufton- 
borough  and  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and  west  by  Centre 
Harbor  and  Squam  Lake.  Distance  from  Concord,  50 
miles,  north  ;  from  Ossipee,  12,  east.  The  surface  is  much 
broken  by  mountains,  lakes,  and  ponds.  Great  Squam 
Pond  lies  in  the  western  part,  and  Squam  and  Long  Ponds 
in  the  south,  the  latter  of  which  is  terminated  by  a  neck 
of  valuable  land,  extending  for  some  distance  into  Winnipi- 
seogee  Lake.  Red  Hill,  which  rises  about  2000  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  is  composed  of  a  bcautifid  sienite,  in 
which  the  feldspar  is  of  a  gray  ash  color.  Near  the  sum- 
mit, where  the  ledges  of  rock  arc  exposed  to  the  action  of 
the  air,  the  rock  is  of  a  reddish  hue.  It  is  covered  with 
uvae  ^usi,  the  leaves  of  which  are  turned  into  a  brilliant 
red  by  the  early  frosts.  Great  numbers  of  visitors,  attract- 
ed by  the  unrivalled  grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  scenery 
of  the  surrounding  country,  ascend  this  mountain  in  the 
summer  months.  On  a  clear  day,  the  vicN\'  from  its  summit 
is  extensive.  Mountains,  lakes,  islands,  forests,  and  culti- 
vated fields  are  here  presented  in  a  single  vicM'.  On  the 
south  side  of  the  mountain  is  a  spring  of  pure  cold  Avater, 
about'  sixteen  feet  in  diameter,  from  the  centre  of  which 
26* 


306  NEW    HAMPSHIKE    AS    IT    IS. 

the  water,  impregnated  with  small  particles  of  a  fine  white 
sand,  is  constantly  thrown  up  to  the  height  of  two  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  spring.  It  affords  water  sufficient 
to  di"ive  saw  or  gristmills.  On  the  stream,  about  a  mile 
below,  is  a  beautiful  cascade  and  waterfall  of  70  feet  per- 
pendicular. Descending  the  mountain  on  the  left  of  the 
fall,  you  soon  come  to  a  cove,  in  which  charcoal  and  other 
substances  are  found,  giving  rise  to  the  belief  that  this  was 
once  a  place  of  concealment  for  the  Indians.  Many  In- 
dian implements  and  relics  have  been  found  in  this  town. 
In  1820,  on  a  small  island  in  the  Winnipiseogee,  was 
found  a  curiously  wrought  gun  barrel,  much  decayed  by 
rust  and  age,  enclosed  in  the  trunk  of  a  pine  tree  sixteen 
inches  in  diameter.  About  the  year  1817,  on  the  north 
line  of  the  town,  near  the  mouth  of  Melvin  Kiver,  a  gigan- 
tic skeleton,  apparently  that  of  a  man  seven  feet  in  height, 
was  found  buried  in  the  sand.  The  Ossipee  tribe  once 
lived  in  this  region  ;  and  several  years  ago  a  tree  was 
standing,  on  which  was  carved  in  hieroglyphics  a  history 
of  their  deeds  and  expeditions. 

There  are  three  stores,  seventeen  common  schools,  one 
hotel,  and  three  meeting  houses,  two  of  which  belong  to 
the  Congregational  society,  and  one  to  the  Methodist  and 
Universalist  societies,  who  occupy  it  alternately. 

This  town  was  granted,  November  17,  1763,  by  the 
Masonian  proprietors,  to  Colonel  Jonathan  Moulton  and 
61  others.  The  first  house  of  public  worship  was  erected 
in  1773,  and  was  blown  down  by  a  violent  east  wind  in 
1819.  The  Congregational  church  was  formed  March  12, 
1777. 

Population,  1748.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
420.  Amount  of  local  funds  for  schools,  $1910.  Inven- 
tory, $337,764.     Value  of  lands,  $200,078.     Do.  mills, 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  307 

|2115.  Stock  in  trade,  $2225.  Money  at  interest,  &c., 
|557G.  Number  of  sheep,  1426.  Do.  neat  stock,  1595. 
Do.  horses,  208. 

Nashua,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Mer- 
rimack, east  by  TJtchfield  and  Hudson,  south  by  Tyngs- 
borough  and  Dunstable,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Hollis. 
Area,  18,878  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  35  miles, 
south  by  the  Concord  Railroad,  which  terminates  here.  The 
soil  has  considerable  variety.  It  is  easy  of  cultivation',  and 
generally  productive.  'J'hc  eastern  portion  of  the  town 
(now  city)  of  Nashua,  lying  upon  the  river,  presents  a 
very  even  surface  ;  the  western  part  is  more  broken  and 
hilly,  though  by  no  means  mountainous.  It  is  watered  by 
Salmon  Ihook  ;  also  by  the  Nashua  River  —  a  fertilizing 
stream,  which  rises  in  Massachusetts. 

The  valley  of  the  Nashaway,  or,  in  modern  phrase, 
Nashua,  sheltered  one  of  the  earliest  settlements  in  New 
Hampshire.  The  tribe  of  Indians  bearing  the  name  iden- 
tical with  that  of  this  river  had  its  head  quarters  in  the 
present  town  of  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  through  which 
the  Nashua  flows.  The  settlement,  though  commenced 
some  years  previously,  received  its  charter  in  167o.  Its 
name  was  Dunstable,  and  its  territory  was  much  greater 
than  the  present  city  of  Nashua,  embracing  in  addition 
Dunstable,  Tyngsborough,  and  parts  of  Groton,  Townsend, 
and  other  towns  in  Massachusetts,  and  Hollis,  Rrookline, 
Milford,  Hudson,  parts  of  Amherst,  INIerrimack,  liitchiield, 
and  sections  of  other  towns  in  New  Hampshire.  More 
romance  of  history  clusters  around  this  locality  than  at- 
taches to  most  others  in  the  state,  filling  with  poetry  the 
memory  of  those  days  of  "war's  alarms,"  — 


I 
^1^ 


308  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


•  What  time  the  noble  Lovewell  came, 

With  fifty  men  from  Dunstable, 
The  cruel  Pequ'at  tribe  to  tame, 
With  arms  and  bloodshed  terrible.' 


The  names  of  Lovewell,  Weld,  Blan chard,  Waldo,  Cum- 
ings,  French,  Farrell,  Lund,  and  Coburn  are  cherished  as 
belonging  to  some  of  the  first  inhabitants.  For  a  long 
time  it  was  a  frontier  town,  exposed  to  Indian  depredations, 
and  annoyed  by  wars  and  sudden  onsets  of  the  relentless 
foe.  In  the  spring  of  1702  a  party  of  Indians  made  an 
assault  upon  the  settlement  and  killed  several  persons, 
among  whom  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Weld,  the  first  minis- 
ter. In  Lovewell's  war,  the  company  from  this  town,  under 
the  noble  captain  Avhose  invaluable  services  give  name  to 
the  campaign,  acquired  imperishable  fame. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1685. 

The  village  (now  city)  of  Nashua  may  properly  date 
back  to  1803,  when  a  post  office  was  established,  houses 
built,  a  canal  boat  launched,  and,  with  much  parade,  chris- 
tened "  The  Nashua,"  and  "  Nashua  Village  "  substituted 
for  "Indian  Head."  A  tavern,  a  store,  and  two  or  three 
dwelling  houses  were  at  that  time  the  principal  buildings. 
The  following  table  exhibits  the  movement  of  population 
in  Nasliua  :  — 


In 

1800, 

862 

1810, 

1049 

1820, 

1142 

1830, 

2417 

1840, 

5960 

1850,  (and  Nashville,; 

8942 

The  present  population  is  probably  something  more  than 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  309 

10,000.  It  will  be  noticed  that  its  growth  was  quite 
gradual  until  subsequent  to  1820,  when  manufacturing 
enterprises  were  undertaken  upon  an  extensive  scale.  In 
1822-1823  the  land  now  owned  by  the  Nashua  Manu- 
facturing Company  was  secured  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses, in  1824  a  charter  was  obtained,  and  in  1825— 
1826  the  mills  went  into  full  operation.  The  works  of 
the  Jackson  Company  went  into  operation  in  1826. 

In  1837  the  thriving  village  so  far  eclipsed  the  ancient 
town  as  to  give  its  name,  Nashua,  to  the  old  township  of 
Dunstable.  In  1842,  in  consequence  of  the  hasty  action 
of  the  legislature,  instigated  by  some  of  the  participants 
in  a  foolish  quarrel  about  the  location  of  the  new  Town 
House,  (which  the  majority  had  located  near  the  bridge,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river,)  that  portion  of  the  town 
north  of  the  river,  with  a  small  section  south  of  it,  near 
its  mouth,  and  north  of  the  Nashua  and  Lowell  Railroad, 
(it  including  a  portion  of  the  property  of  the  Jackson  Com- 
pany,) was  incorporated  with  the  name  of  Nashville.  In 
1853  a  charter  was  granted  and  accepted,  by  which  the 
original  town  became  a  unit  under  a  city  government. 

Nashua,  in  1854,  presents  an  aspect  gratifying  to  the 
pride  of  her  sons,  and  indicative  of  that  indomitable  spirit 
of  intelligent  enterprise  for  which  the  descendants  of  the 
Pilgrims  are  so  distinguished.  For  variety  and  perfection 
of  mechanical  skill  she  yields  the  palm  to  none  of  her  sister- 
hood of  the  Granite  State  cities  ;  and  in  point  of  population 
she  claims  the  second  rank.  Cotton  manufacture,  though 
important,  does  less  for  her  than  the  combined  benefits  of 
other  manufactures.  Artificers  in  wood  and  iron,  in  cards, 
paper,  and  leather  ;  builders  of  ponderous  or  curious  ma- 
chines ;  makers  of  edge  tools,  locks,  and  shuttles  ;  forge- 
men,  founderymen,  and  artisans  of  every  degiee  and  multi- 


310  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

farious  callings,  —  together  swell  the  sum  of  her  benefits, 
until  the  cup  of  her  prosperity  runs  over. 

Few  places  of  similar  growth  and  pursuits  wear  so  at- 
tractive an  appearance.  The  placid  Nashua  flows  through 
the  midst  of  the  city;  grateful  shade  of  grand  old  for- 
est trees  is  each  year  thickening  in  the  principal  streets  ; 
and  the  hand  of  taste  is  yearly  becoming  more  apparent  in 
architecture  and  gardening. 

In  morals,  like  all  other  portions  of  "  Paradise  Lost," 
the"  trail  of  the  serpent  is  visible  upon  a  landscape  where 
virtue  and  charity  are  ever-blooming  floAvers,  though 
frail,  and  far  too  few.  In  morals,  Nashua  will  compare  fa- 
vorably with  the  great  multitude  of  New  England  cities 
of  10,000  inhabitants. 

There  are  eight  religious  societies  with  houses  for  wor- 
ship. The  First  Congregational  church.  Rev.  Daniel 
March ;  Olive  Street  Congregational,  Rev.  Austin  Rich- 
ards ;  Pearl  Street  Congregational,  Rev.  E.  E.  Adams ; 
Baptist,  Rev.  D.  D.  Pratt ;  Unitarian,  Rev.  M.  W.  Willis ; 
Universalist,  Rev.  C.  II.  Fay ;  Lowell  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal,  Rev.  Elihu  Scott ;  Chestnut  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal,  Rev.  Jarcd  Perkins.  Prosperous  Sabbath 
schools,  with  ample  libraries,  exist  in  each,  and  the 
amount  paid  in  furtherance  of  various  objects  of  Christian 
benevolence  and  philanthropy  is  quite  respectable.  In  one 
of  them,  during  the  past  year,  between  |2000  and  $3000, 
in  contributions  and  legacies,  have  been  contributed. 

Few  towns  in  the  state  have  made  more  substantial  prog- 
ress, during  ten  years  past,  in  the  cause  of  popular  edu- 
cation. The  schools  arc  now  more  systematically  and  ju- 
diciously graded,  furnished  with  better  houses  and  educa- 
tional helps,  and  supplied  with  teachers  of  more  experi- 
ence and  success  than  the  great  majority  of  public  schools 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  311 

throughout  the  state.  The  people  have  been  educated,  by 
lectmes,  and  discussions,  and  by  the  local  press,  till  a  more 
just  and  discriminating  idea  of  the  wants  and  value  of 
right  education  now  prevails.  A  great  revolution  in  the 
popular  miud  by  such  means  secured  the  High  School 
House  and  apparatus,  in  district  number  4,  at  a  cost  of 
$15,000.  The  state  may  be  challenged  to  produce  abetter 
house  or  better  school.  The  whole  number  of  districts  is 
11,  occupying  23  school  rooms,  and  employing  between  30 
and  40  teachers  even  in  winter,  most  of  whom  are  females. 

The  nucleus  of  a  public  library  was  created  by  the  in- 
stitution of  the  Union  Athena;ura  July  23,  1851.  It  is 
yet  in  its  infancy,  numbering  but  795  volumes.  An  annu- 
al course  of  winter  lectures  is  given  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Athenaeum. 

The  Pennichuck  Waterworks  have  been  constructed 
during  the  present  year,  (1854.)  The  Pennichuck  has  its 
rise  in  a  pond  near  the  north-western  boundary  of  the  city, 
is  fed  by  many  never-failing  springs  of  soft,  pure  water, 
and  falls  into  tiie  Merrimack.  The  Avater  is  taken,  at  a 
point  just  above  the  Concord  road,  from  an  artificial  pond 
of  26  acres,  and  forced  by  a  jonval  turbine  wheel  of 
eighty-horse  power  into  a  reservoir  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  City  Hall,  110  feet  above  the  street  level  at  that  point, 
and  of  a  capacity  of  1,250,000  gallons.  The  number  of 
hydrants  is  32  ;  the  pipe  to  the  receiving  reservoir  is  eight 
inches  in  diameter  ;  from  the  reservoir  the  pipe  is  fourteen 
inches.  E.  P.  Emerson  is  siiperiutendent  of  the  works, 
and  Russell  E.  Dewey  clerk. 

Few  places  have  better  railroad  facilities.  The  Nashua 
and  Lowell  loads  to  Boston  and  the  east ;  the  Concord  to 
Canada  and  the  western  lakes ;  the  Nashua  and  Worces- 
ter to  Albany  and  New  York  ;  and  the  Wilton  road  pierces 


3 lis  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Hillsborough  county  north-westwardly.  The  Nashua  and 
Epping,  a  projected  air  line  to  Portland,  much  needed  to 
straighten  the  route  from  the  British  provinces,  via  Port- 
land, to  New  York,  has  already  been  surveyed. 

Manufacturing  Establishments.  —  Nashua  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  The  following  statistics  of  the  Nashua 
Manuflictuiing  Company  are  taken  from  the  County  Record, 
published,  in  the  fall  of  1853,  by  Dodge  &  Noyes : 
Daniel  Hussey  agent ;  John  A.  Baldwin  clerk.  Incorpo- 
rated in  June,  1823.  Capital,  1 1,000,000.  Number  1 
mill  is  155  feet  long,  45  feet  wide,  and  5  stories  high.  In 
December,  1824,  the  machine  shop  was  completed,  and  in 
December.  1825,  number  1  mill  went  into  partial  opera- 
tion. It  contains  6784  spindles  and  220  looms,  and  man- 
ufactures 30  inch  drills  and  number  14  yarn.  Number  2 
mill  was  built  in  1827  ;  is  155  feet  long,  45  feet  wide,  and 
6  stories  high;  runs  12,170  spindles  and  315  looms;  and 
makes  28  inch  printing  cloth,  30  inch  jeans,  and  numbers 
20  and  24  yarn.  Number  3  mill  was  erected  in  1836  ;  is 
220  feet  long,  50  feet  wide,  and  5  stories  high ;  operates 
9088  spindles  and  270  looms  ;  and  produces  37  inch  sheet- 
ings and  number  14  yarn.  Number  4  mill  was  built  in 
1844 ;  is  198  feet  long,  50  feet  wide,  and  5  stories  high  ; 
runs  9408  spindles  and  278  looms ;  and  produces  37  inch 
sheetings  and  number  13  yarn.  Besides  these  mills,  there 
are  a  machine  shop,  308  feet  long,  and  1  and  2  stories  high, 
rented  for  various  purposes ;  forty  tenements  for  over- 
seers and  boarding-house  keepers ;  and  two  brick  houses 
for  agent  and  clerk.  The  company  employ  1000  hands 
—  850  females  and  150  males.  The  female  operatives 
average  from  ^2  to  ^2.25  per  Aveek,  besides  board.  An 
addition  to  number  1  mill  is  now  in  progress  —  108  feet 
long,  48  Avide,  and  three  stories  high.     It  will  accommo- 


k 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  313 

date  about  3000  spindles.  The  company  Avill  then  have  in 
operation  more  tlian  40,000  spindles. 

An  operatives'  library  and  savings  institution  are  con- 
nected with  this  company. 

The  Jackson  Company  employ  about  450  hands,  use 
4000  bales  of  cotton,  and  make  about  5,000,000  yards  of 
cloth  yearly.  The  present  agent  is  Pliny  Lawtou ;  R.  W. 
Lane  clerk.  Incorporated  in  1830.  Mill  number  1  has 
6656  spindles  and  206  looms,  and  manufactures  number 
14  sheeting,  37  and  46  inches  wide.  Mill  number  2  is 
also  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  sheetings  and  30  inch 
shirtings,  and  runs  5888  spindles  and  188  looms.  There 
are  thirty-seven  tenements  for  boarding  purposes  and  for 
the  agent  and  clerk.  The  company  have  an  ample  saw 
and  gristmill  connected  with  their  dam,  rented  by  Roby, 
McQuestcn,  &  Co.  An  extensive  improvement  is  now 
being  made  by  this  company.  A  new  mill,  3  stories  high, 
and  284  by  48  feet,  is  in  progress  of  erection.  It  is  to  be 
used  for  -weaving  and  dressing.  Another  building,  now 
nearly  completed,  will  be  divided  into  a  counting  room,  re- 
pair shop,  and  cloth  room.  It  will  be  200  by  40  feet,  and 
2  stories  high. 

The  Nashua  Iron  Company  commenced  operations  in 
1848.  Daniel  H.  Dearborn  superintendent ;  Franklin 
Munroe  clerk.  Capital,  ^100,000.  This  company  carry 
on  the  forging  business,  and  manufacture  car  axles,  shaft- 
ing, bowling  locomotive  tires,  and  all  kinds  of  wrought- 
iron  shapes.     Employ  75  hands. 

Edge  Tool  ( 'ompany  —  G.  W.  Underbill  superintendent 

of  works  ;  T.  G.  Banks,  Jr.,  clerk.     Manufacture  all  kinds 

of  edge  tools.     The  works  are  operated  by  a  new  wheel  of 

100  horse  power,  called  the  jonval  turbine.     Employ  70 

1  27 


314  tiBW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

hands.  Located  on  Salmon  Brook,  one  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  City  Hall. 

Nashua  Gaslight  Company.  In  the  autumn  of  1853 
the  gasworks  went  into  operation.  The  buildings  are  sit- 
uated near  the  Concord  Railroad,  south  of  the  river.  The 
entire  works  are  built  in  a  thorough  and  substantial  style. 
,Capital,  175,000.  W.  D.  Clerk  agent ;  Henry  O.  Winch 
clerk. 

Bobbin  and  Shuttle  Manufactory  —  Josephus  Baldwin 
proprietor.  Manufacture  all  kinds  of  bobbins  and  shut- 
tles.    Number  of  hands  employed,  200. 

Universal  Screw  Chuck  —  newly  invented,  and  manu- 
factured by  E.  B.  "White.  This  is  so  constructed  as  to  be 
applicable  in  centric  or  eccentric  work,  and  is  pronounced 
a  valuable  improvement. 

Machinists'  Tools  —  J.  H.  Gage,  D.  A.  G.  Warner,  and 
G.  W.  Whitney  proprietors  ;  J.  P.  S.  Otterson  clerk. 
Manufacture  tools,  steam  engines,  &c.  Employ  60 
hands. . 

Nashua  Iron  Company  —  Williams,  Bird,  &  Co.  pro- 
prietors. Commenced  operations  in  1845.  Capital,  $40,- 
000.  Furnish  castings  of  every  description.  Employ  60 
hands.  Consume  1500  tons  of  iron  and  500  tons  of  coal 
per  annum. 

Sewing  Machine  Manufactory  —  T.  W.  Gillis  and  A. 
Taylor  proprietors.     Employ  100  hands. 

Stove  Foundery  and  Tinwai-e  Manufactory  —  Hartshorn, 
Ames,  &  Co.  proprietors.     Employ  50  hands. 

Bedstead  Manufactory  —  E.  G.  Sears  &  Co.  Employ 
S5  hands. 

Plain,  Enamelled,  Colored,  Card,  and  Fancy  Paper  Man- 
ufactory —  Gage,  Murray,  &,  Co.  proprietors.  Employ 
f25  hands. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NKW    HAMPSIURE.  315 

Door,  Sash,  and  Blind  Manufactory  —  S.  N.  Wilson  & 
Co.  proprietors.     Employ  35  hands. 

Na'shua  Lock  Company  —  Manufacture  mortise  locks, 
rim  locks,  door  knobs,  bell  pulls,  &c.     Employ  110  hands. 

Platform,  Scales,  and  Wrench  Manufactory.  Employ 
six  hands,     Alexander  proprietor. 

Melodeon  Factory  —  B.  F.  Tobin  &  Co.  Employ  12 
hands. 

Machine  Sliop  —  Kclsey,  Mack,  &  Co.  Employ  \2 
hands. 

Brush  Factory  —  Joseph  Goodwin. 

Paper  Staining  —  Thomas  G.  Banks. 

Ticking  Factory  —  T.  W.  Gillis. 

Note  Paper  Embossing  —  W.  F.  Blanc. 

Bed  and  Mattress  Manufactory  —  Thomas  Tolman.  The 
largest  bedding  manufactory  in  New  England.  Employ 
40  hands.  Capital,  $150,000.  The  spring  mattresses 
manufactured  here  are  unequalled. 

Stove  and  Tinware  Manufactory  —  Reuben  Goodrich, 
Employ  10  hands. 

Tin  and  Sheet  Iron  Working  —  Dodge,  Boynton,  &  Co. 

Iron  Working  —  Jonathan  Dustin  ;  Strong  &  Crafts  ; 
E.  B.  White. 

Steam  Sawmill.  John  D.  Kimball  —  Run  saws,  plan- 
ing, and  shingle  machines.      Employ  26  hands. 

Doors,  Sashes,  and  Blinds  —  J.  &  S.  C.  Crombie.  Man- 
ufacture 1,000,000  feet  of  lumber  per  annum.  Emjjloy  40 
hands. 

Palmleaf  Hat  Manufactory — F.  S.  Rogers,  H.  C. 
Rogers,  and  E.  A.  Ilaskins.  Manufacture  30,000  dozen 
yearly.  Employ  1.'2  hands  in  shop,  and  3000  in  various 
parts  of  the  state. 

Lumbering  and  Sawing  —  Luther  A.  Roby,  Cyrus  T. 
Roby,  and  Samuel  McQuesten.     Employ  30  men. 


316  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Gristmills  —  Roby,  McQuesten,  &  Co. ;  J.  D.  Kimball. 

Sawmill  —  John  and  James  Eayrs. 

Jib  Hanks  —  J.  H.  Everett. 

Spring  Bedstead  Factory  — Wesley  E.  Merrill  and  Free- 
man Tupper.  This  is  a  recent  invention  of  the  proprie- 
tors, and  seems  destined,  and  deservedly,  to  supersede  all 
others.  It  can  be  taken  apart  and  put  together  in  a  few 
seconds,  admits  of  no  retreat  for  vermin,  requires  no 
cords,  screws,  or  mortises  to  hold  it  together,  and  stands 
firmly,  and  is  not  likely  to  become  loose  or  rickety.  A 
slight  examination  is  sufficient  to  discover  its  merits  and 
superiority. 

The  mechanical  department  of  Nashua  is  varied  and 
extensive,  reaching  into  almost  every  branch  of  industry, 
and  furnishing  unquestionable  vouchers  for  its  future  and 
peniKinent  prosperity.  There  are  besides  202  stores  and 
shops  of  various  descriptions. 

Fire  Department.  —  There  are  five  engines,  one  hook 
and  ladder,  and  one  hose  company.  The  reservoirs  are 
capacious,  substantially  built,  and  conveniently  located. 

Hotels.  —  Pearl  Street  House,  O.  Bristol,  Main  Street; 
Nashua  House,  A.  Longley,  Chestnut  Street;  Little's 
Tavern,  J.  Little,  South  Nashua. 

Ncvjspapers.  —  Three  newspapers  are  published  in  this 
city  —  viz.,  the  Nashua  Gazette  and  Hillsborough  County 
Advertiser,  the  New  Hampshire  Telegraph,  and  the 
Oasis. 

The  Cemetery  is  beautifully  located  and  enclosed.  It  is 
situated  in  a  quiet  and  pleasant  grove  in  the  rear  of  the 
Unitarian  church,  including  about  two  acres.  About 
.$5000  have  been  expended  in  the  purchase  of  the  grounds, 
construction  of  fences,  walks,  &c. 

The  City  Hall  is  a  spacious  and  splendid  edifice,  erected 
at  considerable  expense. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  317 

Many  of  the  residences  in  this  city  are  fine  specimens 
of  architectural  skill.* 

Nelson,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Stoddard, 
east  by  Antrim  and  Hancock,  south  by  Dublin  and  Rox- 
bury,  and  west  by  lloxbury  and  Sullivan.  Area,  22,875 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  south-west ;  from 
Keene,  8,  north-east.  Situated  on  tlie  height  of  land  be- 
tween Merrimack  and  Connecticut  Rivers.  The  surface  is 
hilly,  but  good  for  grazing.  The  soil  is  generally  hard, 
but  productive.  There  are  seven  ponds-,  covering  a  surface 
of  1800  acres.  Long  Pond,  the  largest  body  of  water,  is 
four  miles  in  length ;  from  this  issues  a  branch  of  the 
Contoocook  River.  Several  excellent  mill  privileges  are 
furnished  by  streams  flowing  from  these  ponds.  Plumbago 
is  found  in  large  quantities  here.  The  mines  yield  on  an 
average  220  tons  annually.  The  inhabitants  are  princi- 
pally farmers,  of  industrious  habits.  Within  a  few  years 
considerable  attention  has  been  paid  to  manufactures, 
which  have  added  much  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
town.  The  cotton  factory  owned  by  Alvan  Munson  has 
640  spindles  and  12  looms.  The  capital  stock  is  valued 
at  $12,000.  Manufacture  L^  cotton  sheetings;  number  of 
yarn,  20  ;  number  of  operatives,  20. 

Harrisville,  a  pleasant  and  thriving  village,  is  situated 
partly  in  Nelson,  and  partly  in  Dublin.  It  is  named  from 
Bethuel  Harris,  an  active  and  enterprising  man,  who,  in 
1820,  commenced  business  here  without  funds  save  his 
energy  and  perseverance.  The  village  now  contains  a 
meeting  house,  school  house,  a  store,  public  house,  and  a 
large   wooden   ware    shop.      It  has    a  population   of  350 

•  The  valuation,  &c.,  of  the  several  cities  in  New  Hampshire  will  be  given  in 
a  separate  table  in  a  subsequent  part  of  the  Gazetteer. 

•  .  27* 


318  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

inhabitants.  The  -woollen  factory  of  Messrs.  Harris  & 
Hutchinson,  also  that  of  Milan  Harris,  Colony,  &  Sons, 
are  widely  known  for  the  fine  doeskins,  of  a  truly  superior 
quality,  manufactured  here.  The  capital  stock  of  Messrs. 
Harris  &  Hutchinson  is  valued  at  $20,000 ;  number  of 
spindles,  300  ;  do.  looms,  7  ;  do.  operatives,  18.  30,000 
pounds  of  fine  avooI  are  consumed  annually.  Agent,  Charles 
C.  P.  Harris,  There  is  also  a  chair  factory,  in  Avhich  10 
hands  are  employed.  Besides  these  already  named,  there 
are  in  Nelson  two  meeting  houses,  one  store,  three  shoe 
manufactories,  one  tannery,  and  one  blacksmith's  shop. 

This  town  was  foi-merly  called  Monadnock  Number  Six. 
It  Avas  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors  February  22, 
1774.  The  first  settlers  Avere  Breed  Batchelder  and  Dr. 
Nathaniel  Breed,  who  came  here  in  1767.  The  Congrega- 
tional church  was  organized  January  31,  1781. 

Population,  751.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
180.  Common  schools,  8.  Inventory,  $252,100.  Value 
of  lands,  $142,296.  Do.  mills  and  factories,  $6550. 
Stock  in  trade,  $2730.  Money  at  interest,  &c.,  $23,595. 
Number  of  sheep,  3832.  Do.  neat  stock,  740.  Do.  horses, 
117. 

New  Boston,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Weare,  east  by  Goffstown  and  ]3cdford,  south  by  Mount 
Vernon  and  Lyndcborough,  and  west  by  Lyndeborough 
and  Francestown.  Area,  26,536  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  22  miles,  south  ;  from  Amherst,  9,  north.  This 
town  is  watered  by  several  streams,  the  largest  of  which  is 
the  south  branch  of  Piscataquog  Biver.  'I'hc  soil  is  strong 
and  fertile.  The  surface  is  uneven,  affording  excellent 
tillage  and  grazing.  The  scenery  is  varied  and  picturesque, 
partaking  largely  of  the  alpine  character,  with  rocks  piled 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  319 

on  rocks,  and  hills  on  hills.  There  are  two  villages,  the 
lower  and  principal  of  which  lies  in  a  deep  and  narrow 
valley,  through  which  the  noisy  Piscataquog  winds  its  way. 
Overlooking  it,  on  a  level  and  grassy  niche  in  the  steep 
hillside,  stands  the  other  village,  from  wliich  a  tall  church 
spire  points  skyward. 

There  are  in  this  town  18  sawmills,  four  gristmills, 
three  stores,  one  seraphine  factory,  one  door,  sash,  and  blind 
factory,  one  edge  tool  factory,  one  tannery,  two  coopers' 
shops,  two  blacksmiths'  shops,  three  cabinet  shops,  one 
hotel,  and  two  meeting  houses.  New  Boston  was  granted, 
January  14,  1736,  by  Massachusetts,  to  inhabitants  of 
Boston.  It  was  incorporated  by  New  Hampshire  February 
18,  1763.  It  was  first  settled,  in  1733,  by  persons  named 
Cochran,  Wilson,  Caldwell,  McNeil,  Ferson,  and  Smith. 
The  Presbyterian  church  was  formed  about  1768.  There 
is  also  a  Baptist  society  here. 

Population,  1476.  Number  of  polls,  ,'298.  Inventory, 
.$561,656.  Value  of  lands,  .$379,975.  Stock  in  trade, 
$18,387.  Value  of  mills,  $8326.  Number  of  sheep,  982. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1682.     Do.  horses,  277. 

Newhury,  Merrimack  coimty.  Bounded  north  by  New 
London  and  Sunapcc  Lake,  east  by  Sutton,  south  by  Brad- 
ford, and  west  by  Goshen  and  Sunapee  Lake.  Area, 
19,332  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  35  miles,  west  by 
north.  A  considerable  part  of  Sunapee  Lake  lies  within 
the  limits  of  this  town; »  Although  it  is  well  watered,  yet 
there  is  no  stream  of  noticeable  size.  Todd  Pond,  Ijang  in 
the  south-east  part,  is  500  rods  in  length  and  60  in  width. 
In  the  western  portion  the  surface  is  hilly,  and  well  adapted 
to  grazing.  The  land  is  generally  mountainous,  and  the 
soil  hard  and  rocky.      It  was  originally  called  Dantzic.     In 


320  NEV.'    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    13. 

1778  it  received  the  name  of  Fishersfield,  from  John 
Fisher,  one  of  the  first  proprietors.  In  1837  its  name  was 
changed  to  NeAvbury.  Zephaniah  Clark  Avas  the  first  set- 
tler, in  1762.  There  are  tlii'ee  Freewill  Baptist  societies  here. 
Population,  738.  Number  of  polls,  168.  Inventory, 
$236,630.  Value  of  lands,  $154,668.  Stock  in  trade, 
$500.  Number  of  sheep,  2541.  Do.  neat  stock,  1152. 
Do.  horses,  161. 

New  Castle,  Rockingham  couniy.  A  rough  and  rocky 
island,  situated  in  Portsmouth  Harbor,  and  formerly  called 
Great  Island.  A  handsome  bridge  connects  it  "svith  Ports- 
mouth. It  is  a  frequent  resort  for  fishing,  which  is  pur- 
sued with  great  success.  The  soil  among  the  rocks,  being 
of  good  quality,  is  made  to  produce  abundantly.  On  this 
island  is  Fort  Constitution  and  a  lighthouse.  It  was  in- 
corporated in  1693,  and  contains  458  acres.  Hon.  Theo- 
dore Atkinson,  for  many  years  chief  justice  of  the  Province 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  secretary  and  president  of  the 
Council,  was  born  at  New  Castle,  December  20,  1697. 

Population,  891,  Number  of  polls,  167.  Inventory, 
$144,919.  Value  of  lands,  $12,194.  Do.  vessels,  $21,- 
399.  Stock  in  trade,  $2150.  Money  at  interest,  &c,, 
$20,589, 

New  Durham,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north-west 
by  "Wolfborough  and  Alton,  east  by  Brookfield  and  Mid- 
dleton,  south-east  by  Farmington,  ^ind  south-west  and  west 
by  Alton.  Area,  23,625  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
35  miles,  north-east ;  from  Dover,  32,  north-west. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  very  uneven,  and  a  portion 
of  it  is  so  rocky  as  to  be  unfit  for  cultivation.  The  soil  is 
generally  moist  and  well  adapted  for  grazing.     There  are 


"' VC 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  321 

five  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  —  Merry  Meeting  Pond  — 
is  about  10  miles  in  circumference.  A  copious  and  perpet- 
ual stream  issues  from  it,  and  discharges  into  Merry  Meet- 
ing Bay,  in  Alton.  Ela's  River  flows  from  Coldrain  Pond, 
affording  several  fine  water  privileges.  Mount  Betty, 
Cropple  Crown,  and  Straw's  Mountain  are  the  principal 
eminences.  On  the  north-easterly  side  of  the  latter  is  a 
remarkable  cave,  the  entrance  of  which  is  three  feet  wide 
and  ten  feet  high.  The  first,  or  outer,  apartment  is  20  feet 
square.  Those  adjacent  grow  smaller,  until  at  the  distance 
of  50  feet  from  the  first  they  are  too  small  to  admit  of 
examination.  The  sides  of  the  galleries  and  the  rooms  are 
solid  granite.  There  is  a  fountain,  over  which  a  part  of 
Ela's  River  passes,  which  is  regarded  as  a  curiosity.  By 
sinking  a  small  vessel  into  it,  water  may  be  obtained  ex- 
tremely pure  and  cold.  Near  the  centre  of  the  town  is 
Rattlesnake  Hill,  the  south  side  of  which  is  perpendicular 
and  100  feet  in  height.  Agriculture  is  the  chief  employ- 
ment.    Excellent  fruit  is  raised  here. 

This  town  was  granted,  in  1749,  to  Ebenezer  Smith  and 
others.  It  was  incorporated,  December  7,  1762,  luider  its 
present  name.  A  Congregational  church  was  established 
here  in  1773.  Elder  Benjamin  Randall,  the  founder  of 
the  sect  of  Freewill  Baptists,  commenced  his  labors  here  in 
1780  and  organized  a  church. 

Population,  lO-iS.  Number  of  polls,  269.  Inven- 
tory, 1299,284.  Value  of  lands,  $176,306.  Stock  in 
trade,  $7263.  Value  of  mills,  $7725.  Money  at  inter- 
est, &c.,  $7250.  Number  of  sheep,  402.  Do.  neat  stock, 
990.     Do.  horses,  160. 

New  Hampton,  Belknap  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Holderness,  east  by  Centre  Harbor  and  Meredith,  south  by 


S^S  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Sanbornton  and  Hill,  and  west  by  Bridgewater  and  Bristol, 
Area,  19,422  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30  miles, 
north-west ;  from  Guilford,  15,  north-west,  Pemigewasset 
River  is  the  only  stream  of  magnitude  in  this  town.  Over 
it  is  the  bridge  which  connects  with  Bristol.  There  is  a 
remarkable  spring  on  the  west  side  of  Kelley's  Mountain, 
from  which  issues  a  stream  of  sufficient  power  to  carry  sev- 
eral mills.  It  is  never  affected  by  rains  or  droughts.  The 
surface  is  broken  and  uneven.  The  soil  is  generally  re- 
-markably  fertile,  though  in  some  parts  it  is  dry  and  sandy. 
In  tlire  south  part  of  the  toAvn  is  a  high  hill  of  conical 
shape,  which  may  be  seen,  in  any  direction,  a  distance  of  10, 
and  even  50,  miles. 

The  Academical  and  Theological  Institution  in  this 
town  was  established,  about  the  year  1820,  under  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  Baptist  denomination. 

The  Female  Seminary  Avas  widely  known  and  celebrated 
as  one  of  the  best  institutions  in  the  county,  as  well  on 
account  of  its  retired  and  healthy  location  as  for  the  thor- 
ough and  extended  course  of  study  pursued,  including 
nearly  all  the  various  branches  taught  in  our  colleges. 

The  Theological  Institution  was  finely  located  on  a 
pleasant  eminence  about  half  a  mile  from  the  principal 
village.  Within  a  short  time  past,  both  departments  have 
been  located  in  Vermont ;  but,  through  the  enterprise  of  the 
inhabitants,  a  flourishing  and  permanent  academy  has  al- 
ready been  established. 

The  village  of  New  Hampton  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a 
large  plane,  surrounded  by  hills  and  mountains.  The 
scenery,    especially  in    the    warm    season,   is  picturesque. 

New  Hampton  was  incorporated  November  27,  1777. 
The  first  settler  Avas  Samuel  Kelley,  who  moved  here  in 
1775.     The  first  religious  society  was  the  Baptist  church. 


OAZKTTKKlt    OF    NKW    II  VMPSIIIUK.  323 

formed  in  1783.  A  Congregational  church  was  organized 
in  1800,  but  was  dissolved  in  1816.  There  are  three 
meeting  houses,  four  stores,  and  one  hotel. 

Population,  1612.  Number  of  polls,  307.  Inventory, 
$382,344.  Value  of  lands,  i|244,042.  Stock  in  trade, 
$2350.  Money  at  interest,  $11,230.  Number  of  sheep, 
1444.     Do.  neat  stock,  1430.     Do.  horses,  220. 

Newingtox,  llockiugluuu  county.  Bounded  north-east 
by  the  Piscataqua  River,  east  by  I'ortsmouth,  south  by 
Greenland,  and  west  by  Great  and  liittle  Bays.  Area, 
5273  acres.  The  soil  is  generally  sandy  and  unproductive, 
excepting  near  the  shores,  where  it  yields  heavy  crops  of 
grain  and  grass.  At  Fox  Point,  in  tlic  north-westerly  part 
of  the  town,  Piscataqua  Bridge  extends  over  the  river  to 
Goat  Island.  This  bridge  was  erected  in  1793,  is  2600 
feet  long,  and  40  wide.     Its  original  cost  was  ,$65,401. 

Newington  was  formerly  a  part  of  Portsmouth  and  Do- 
ver, and  was  early  settled.  The  surface  is  underlaid  with 
clay  slate,  which  rests  upon  sicnitic  granite.  Large  blocks 
of  this  rock  are  often  found  ;  and  being  a  handsome  and 
durable  building  material,  it  is  quarried  for  underpinning  and 
other  purposes.  The  centre  of  the  town  is  about  150  feet 
above  the  sea.  This  town  m  as  incorporated  in  July,  1764. 
Rev.  Joseph  Adams,  the  first  minister  of  Newington,  was 
oi'dained  here  in  1715.  Since  1810,  with  the  exception 
of  occasional  preaching,  the  Congregational  society  have 
been  destitute  of  a  minister.  There  is  a  large  and  flour- 
ishing society  of  Methodists  here. 

This  town,  like  most  of  the  new  settlements,  was  ex- 
posed to  the  ravages  of  the  Indians.  In  ^lay,  1690,  a 
party  of  Indians,  under  a  chief  called  Iloophood,  attacked 
Fox  Point,  destroyed  several  houses,  killed  fourteen  per- 


32-i  NEW    HAMPSHIKE    AS    IT    IS. 

sons,  and  captured  six  others.  They  were  immediately  piu'- 
sued  by  the  inhabitants,  who  recovered  some  of  the  cap- 
tives and  a  portion  of  the  plunder  after  a  severe  conflict, 
in  which  Hoophood  was  wounded. 

Population,  472.  Number  of  polls,  129.  Inventory, 
.$182,533.  Value  of  lands,  $122,532.  Money  at  interest, 
$11,251.  Number  of  sheep,  272.  Do.  neat  stock,  493. 
Do.  horses,  76. 

New  Ipswich,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Sharon  and  Temple,  east  by  Mason,  south  by  Ashbumham, 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Rindge.  Area,  20,860  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-west ;  from  Am- 
herst, 18,  south-west.  Souhegan  River  is  the  principal 
stream,  though  it  is  avcII  watered  by  numerous  small  rivu- 
lets. The  soil  is  a  clayey  loam,  very  productive  compared 
with  that  of  most  of  the  towns  in  the  county.  The 
water  is  good,  and  the  water  privileges  abundant  and  valu- 
able, supplied  chiefly  by  the  Souhegan.  A  cotton  factory 
was  put  in  operation  here  in  1803,  either  the  first  or  second 
in  the  state. 

The  New  Ipswich  Academy,  a  respectable  and  flourish- 
ing institution,  was  incorporated  June  18,  1789. 

The  principal  village  is  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  in  a 
pleasant  and  fertile  valley,  containing  foiu'  meeting  houses, 
the  Town  House,  and  Academy.  The  public  houses  are 
finished  in  a  handsome  style.  ISIany  of  the  dwelling 
houses  are  of  brick,  and  present  an  elegant  and  substantial 
appearance.  There  are  forty  stores  and  shops  of  various 
kinds,  two  hotels,  five  sawmills,  and  one  gristmill. 

Brown's  Ticking  Mills  have  1952  spindles,  54  looms, 
and  furnish  employment  for  50  operatives.  Manufacture 
270,000  yards  per  annum,  and  consume  140,000  pounds 
raw  cotton.     E.  Brown  proprietor  and  agent. 


GAZETTEKK    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  325 

Mountain  Mills  —  Hiram  Smith  agent.  Number  of 
spindles,  2232.  Do.  looms,  54.  Do.  hands  employed, 
66.  Manufacture  drillings.  Number  of  yards  manufac- 
tured, 44,000  per  month.  Do.  pounds  cotton  consumed 
per  month,  12,000.     Pay  roll  per  month,  for  labor,  |980. 

Columbian  Manufacturing  Company  —  Stephen  Smith 
agent. 

Match  Factory  —  Stephen  Thayer  proprietor.  This  es- 
tablishment splits  a  cord  of  second  growth  pine  into 
matches  daily. 

New  IpsAvich  Avas  first  granted  by  Massachusetts.  It 
was  settled,  before  1749,  by  Reuben  Kiddei',  Archibald 
White,  Joseph  and  Ebenezer  BuUard,  Joseph  Stephens, 
and  eight  others.  It  was  regranted  in  April,  1750,  by  the 
Masonian  proprietors,  and  was  incorporated  September  9, 
1762.  This  town  sent  65  men  to  Bunker  Hill.  A  Con- 
gregational church  was  gathered  here  in  1750. 

Population,  1877.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
408.  Inventory,  $736,429.  Value  of  lands,  $437,546. 
Do.  mills  and  factories,  $75,720.  Stock  in  trade,  $25,124. 
Money  at  interest,  &c.,  $24,620.  Number  of  sheep,  208 
Do.  neat  stock,  1089.     Do.  horses,  226. 

New  London,  ^Icrrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Springfield  and  Wilmot,  east  by  Wilmot,  south  by  Sutton 
and  Newbury,  and  west  by  Sunapee  Lake  and  Sunapee. 
Little  Sunapee  Pond,  in  the  west  part,  and  Harvey's  and 
Messer's  Ponds,  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  are  the  only 
considerable  bodies  of  water.  The  two  latter  are  the  prin- 
cipal sources  of  Warner  River,  and  are  separated  only  by  a 
bog,  which  in  many  places  rises  and  falls  with  the  water. 
The  population  of  New  London  is  principally  concentrated 

on  three  large  swells  of  land  extending  through  the  town  in 
OS 


326  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS 

a  north-westerly  direction.  On  these  swells  the  soil  is  deep 
and  fertile.  In  the  north  part  the  surface  grows  more  un- 
even and  hilly.  In  some  localities  it  is  rocky,  though  there 
is  but  very  little  land  unfit  for  cultivation.  Its  location  is 
healthy,  and  its  scenery  delightful.  The  inhabitants  are 
chiefly  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  there  are  some  very 
productive  farms.  There  is  a  large  establishment  where 
scythes  are  extensively  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Phillips, 
Messer,  &  Colby,  whose  reputation  as  manufacturers  of 
these  implements  of  husbandry  is  world  wide.  A  literary 
institution  has  recently  been  established  here  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Baptists.  New  London  was  incorporated 
June  25,  1779,  under  the  name  of  Heidleburg.  A  Bap- 
tist church  was  formed  October  23,  1788.  A  violent 
whirlwind  passed  through  this  region  September  9,  1821. 
The  damage  sustained  by  the  inhabitants  was  estimated  at 
$9000.  An  immense  block  of  granite,  100  feet  long,  50 
wide,  and  20  high,  was  rent  asunder,  the  two  pieces  being 
thrown  a  distance  of  20  feet  from  each  other. 

Population,  945.  Number  of  polls,  236.  Inventory, 
|327,957.  Value  of  lands,  $194,491.  Stock  in  trade, 
$6350.  Money  at  interest,  $30,600.  Number  of  sheep, 
2732.     Do.  neat  stock,  1003.     Do.  horses,  170. 

New  Market,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Lee  and  Durham,  east  by  Great  Bay,  south  by  South  New 
Market,  and  Avest  by  Epping.  Area,  4882  acres.  Piscas- 
sick  River  flows  through  this  town  in  a  northerly  direction. 
Lamprey  River  washes  its  north-eastern,  and  the  Swamscot 
its  south-eastern  boundaries.  These  strcamj  aflc)rd  numer- 
ous fine  water  privileges.  The  surface  is  generally  even, 
and  the  soil  excellent.  The  pursuits  of  agriculture  are 
crowned  with  abundant  success.     The  soutL  western  portion 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

is  somewhat  hilly.  The  villages  are  pleasant  and  thriving. 
The  houses  are  neat  —  many  of  them  are  of  handsome 
structure. 

The  New  Market  Manufacturing  Company  —  John  Web- 
ster agent  —  were  incorporated  in  1823.  Cotton  sheetings 
and  shirtings  are  manufactured  here.  Number  of  spindles, 
18,000.  Do.  looms,  52<5.  Do.  yards  of  cloth  manufac- 
tured per  annum,  4,500,000.  Do.  bales  of  cotton  con- 
sumed per  annum,  4000.     Do,  operatives,  450. 

The  manufiicture  of  machinery  of  various  kinds  is  exten- 
sively carried  on  here.  New  Market  is  a  very  busy  town. 
Mechanical  labor,  in  its  various  departments,  is  quite  ex- 
tensively pursued. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Shute,  who  died  here  in  1819,  will  be  re- 
membered, not  only  for  her  excellent  qualities,  but  for 
her  youthful  adventures.  When  13  months  old,  she  was 
taken  by  a  party  of  Indians,  carried  to  Canada,  and  sold  to 
the  French.  She  was  educated  in  a  nunnery,  and,  after 
remaining  13  years  in  captivity,  was  redeemed  and  restored 
to  her  friends. 

The  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad  passes  through  the  east- 
ern portion  of  this  town,  and  connects  with  the  Ports- 
mouth and  Concord  Railroad  at  the  junction  in  South 
New  Market. 

New  Market  was  originally  a  part  of  Exeter,  and  was 
separated  and  incorporated  December  15,  1727.  In  1849 
a  large  portion  of  its  territory  was  detached  and  erected 
into  the  township  of  South  New  Market. 

The  Congregational  church  was  established  here  in  1730. 

There  is   also  a  Methodist  and  Freewill   Baptist  society, 

each  containing  respectable  numbers. 

»>  Population,  1937.     Number  of  polls,  409.     Inventory, 

$784,112.     Value  of  lands,  $345,806.     Do.  mills   and 


328  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

factories,  $231,000.  Stock  in  trade,  $52,950.  Money  at 
interest,  $45,330.  Number  of  sheep,  344.  Do.  neat 
stock,  599.     Do.  horses,  121. 

Newport,  shire  town  of  Sullivan  county.  Bounded 
north  by  Croyden,  east  by  Sunapee  and  Goshen,  south  by 
Unity,  and  west  by  Claremont.  Area,  25,267  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  39  miles,  by  the  Merrimack  and  Con- 
necticut River  Raih-oad.  The  central  position  of  this  town, 
and  its  vahiable  water  privileges,  together  with  the  fact 
that  it  is  the  county  seat,  render  it  a  place  of  considerable 
business  and  importance.  Its  surface  is  diversified  with 
hills  and  valleys.  The  soil  may  be  classified  by  three  di- 
visions —  viz.,  the  alluvial,  or  the  borders  of  the  different 
branches  of  Sugar  River,  forming  rich  and  fertile  meadows, 
from  one  fourth  to  half  a  mile  in  width,  on  either  side 
of  the  streams  ;  the  dry  and  gravelly,  or  the  low  lands  in 
other  parts  of  the  town  ;  and  the  moist  and  cold  in  the 
more  elevated  parts.  In  general  the  soil  is  productive. 
Many  farms  in  this  town  are  under  high  cultivation. 
Sugar  River  fiows  through  the  town,  its  three  branches 
uniting  near  the  village,  whence  it  passes  through  Clare- 
mont to  the  Connecticut.  The  village  is  one  of  the  pleas- 
antest  in  the  state.  Its  principal  street  is  broad,  and  some- 
what more  than  a  mile  in  length.  It  is  nearly  surrounded 
by  hills,  which  are  themselves  overtopped  by  lofty  eleva- 
tions and  mountains  in  the  distance,  rendering  the  scenery 
in  Avinter  wild  and  sublime,  in  summer  romantic  and 
charming. 

The  houses  are  well  built  —  some  are  elegant  residences, 
adorned  with  beautiful  yards  and  gardens.  The  Court 
House  is  a  large  brick  edifice,  standing  on  a  gentle  rise  a 
few  rods    from   the   principal   street.     The   county  build- 


GAZETTEER   6t   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  329 

ings  are  conveniently  located,  and  are  substantially  built. 
There  are  four  meeting  houses,  all  of  which  are  situated 
on  the  principal  street  —  the  Baptist  at  the  northern  ex- 
tremity, and  the  Congregational,  a  massive  brick  structure, 
at  the  southern  extremity.  The  Methodist  chapel,  a  new 
and  handsome  edifice,  and  the  Universalist  meeting  house 
are  situated  in  the  more  central  part.  There  are  two  pub- 
lic houses,  large  and  convenient,  where  the  best  accommo- 
dations are  always  provided.  These  houses  are  a  frequent 
resort  of  travellers  iu  the  summer  season,  attracted  hither 
by  the  healthiness  of  the  place  and  the  opportunities  for 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  by  the  surrounding  country. 
There  are  also  eight  stores,  some  twenty  shops  of  various 
descriptions,  three  woollen  factories,  where  quite  an  exten- 
sive business  is  done,  tMO  very  extensive  tanneries,  and 
one  machine  shop,  where  various  articles  of  merchandise 
are  manufactured.  At  Northville,  a  busy  place  a  few 
miles  from  the  principal  village,  are  a  scythe  flxctory  and 
numerous  other  departments  of  mechanical  labor.  The  in- 
habitants are  industrious  and  persevering  ;  and  as  idleness 
is  a  stranger  among  them,  so  is  poverty. 

Newport  was  incorporated  October  6,  1761.  The  first 
effort  towards  a  settlement  was  made,  in  the  fall  of  1763, 
by  Jesse  Wilcox,  Ebenezer  Merrit,  Jesse  Kelsey,  and 
Samuel  Kurd. 

The  Congregational  church  was  formed  in  1779.  The 
Baptist  church  was  organized  the  same  year. 

The  Argus  and  Spectator  is  published  here  ;  for  history 
of  which,  see  another  part  o:^  this  volume. 

The  Sugar  River  Bank  was  incorporated  January  7, 
1853.     Capital  stock,  $50,000. 

Population,  i2020.  Number  of  polls,  479.  Inven- 
tory, $682,156.  ^'alue  of  lands,  $383,904.  Do.  mills 
28* 


300  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

,f 

and  factories,  $13,700.  Stock  in  trade,  $21,950.  Money 
at  interest,  $33,050.  Number  of  sheep,  2753.  Do.  neat 
stock,  2180.     Do.  horses,  399. 

Newton,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Kingston,  east  by  South  Hampton,  south  by  Amesbury, 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Phiistow.  Area,  5250  acres. 
Nearly  one  third  of  Country  Pond  Hes  in  this  town.  The 
soil  is  fertile  —  suitable  for  the  growth  of  grain  and  grass. 
Joseph  Bartlett  first  settled  in  this  town  in  1720,  and  was 
followed  in  a  few  months  by  several  others.  Twelve  years 
previous  to  his  settlement  here  he  had  been  taken  by  the 
Indians  in  Haverhill  and  conveyed  to  Canada,  where  he 
remained  four  years.  A  Baptist  church  was  formed  here 
in  1755,  which  is  the  oldest  religious  society  of  that  de- 
nomination in  the  state.  A  Congregational  church  was 
organized  about  1759.  There  are  four  stores,  several  shoe 
shops,  employing  nearly  one  third  of  its  inhabitants,  and 
one  hotel.  The  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad  passes  through 
the  town  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  adding  much  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  town. 

Population,  685.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  210. 
Common  schools,  6.  Inventory,  $231,713.  Value  of 
lands,  $115,230.  Stock  in  trade,  $1000.  Money  at  in- 
terest, $11,850.  Number  of  sheep,  119.  Do.  neat  stock, 
387.     Do,  horses,  58.      Value  of  shares  in  banks,  $1250. 

NoRTHFiELU,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Sanbornton  and  Gilmanton,  past  by  Gilmanton,  south  by 
Canterbury,  and  west  by  Franklin.  Area,  about  19,000 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  17  miles,  north,  by  the 
Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad.  The  surface  is 
uneven,  and  in  some  parts   hilly.     The   soil   is   generally 


GA.ZETTEE11    OF    NEW    IIAMPSHIRBF  331 

good;  thut  of  the  richest  quality  lies  in  tl\e  two  ridges 
extending  through  the  town,  on  which  are  several  excelleiit 
farms.  Chestnut  and  Sondogardy  Ponds  arc  the  largest 
collections  of  water.  It  is  watered  by  the  Winnipiseogee 
River  and  several  small  streams.  The  New  Hampshire 
Conference  Seminary,  a  lail^e  and  flourishing  literary  insti- 
tution under  the  patronage  of  the  Methodist  denomination, 
is  pleasantly  located  on  a  gentle  eniinence  some  20  or  30 
rods  from  Winnipiseogee  River,  and  about  50  rods  from 
the  depot  at  Sanbornton  Bridge.  It  has  a  valuable  philo- 
sophical and  chemical  apparatus,  and  its  collection  of 
minerals  is  quite  extensive.  The  first  settlement  in  this 
town  was  made,  in  1760,  by  Benjamin  Blanchard  and 
others.  A  Methodist  church  was  formed  here  in  1806. 
It  now  numbers  about  500  communicants.  There  are  two 
factories  here  —  one  woollen  and  one  cotton.  Northfield 
was  incorporated  June  19,  1780. 

Population,  1332.     Number  of  polls,  285.     Inventory, 
■    |428,090.     Value  of  lands,  |293,067.      Stock  in   trade, 
$1250.     Do.  mills  and  factories,  $8000.     Money  at  in- 
terest, &c.,  $15,114.     Number  of  sheep,  1750.     Do.  neat 
stock,  1168.     Do.  horses,  197. 

North  Hampton,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Greenland,  east  by  Rye  and  the  ocean,  south  by  Hamp- 
ton, and  west  by  Stratham.  Area,  8465  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  47  miles,  south-east;  from  Portsmouth,  9, 
south  by  the  Eastern  Railroad,  Little  River  rises  in  the 
low  grounds  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and,  by  a  wind- 
ing course,  reaches  the  sea  between  Great  and  Little  Boar's 
Head.  This  township  formerly  con^titutcd  the  parish 
known  as  North  Hill,  in  Hampton.  On  Little  River  are 
three  sawmills  and  one  gristmill.     There  are  two  meeting 


■i-C; 


5 


332  ^       NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


houses,  two  stores,  and  one  hotel  in  the  principal  village. 
The  settlements  here  date  back  to  a  very  early  period  in 
the  history  of  this  state.  The  first  Congregational  meet- 
ing house  Avas  erected  in  1738.  The  early  settlers  were 
much  exposed  to  the  ravages^f  Indians.  Garrisons  were 
erected,  to  which  they  resortal  in  times  of  danger.  In 
the  year  1677  several  persons  were  killed  within  the  limits 
of  this  town.  North  Hampton  was  incorporated  Novem- 
ber 26,  1742. 

Population,  822.  Number  o'f  legal  voters  in  1854,  210. 
Inventory,  !^3 15,438.  Value  of  lands,  $;242,320.  Do. 
mills,  $1160.  Stock  in  trade,  $1050.  Money  at  interest, 
$4751.  Number  of  sheep,  341.  Do.  neat  stock,  723. 
Do.  horses,  126. 

Northumberland,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Stratford,  east  by  Stark,  south  by  Lancaster,  and  west  by 
Maidstone,  Vermont.  Distance  from  Concord,  130  miles, 
north ;  from  Lancaster,  7,  north-east.  The  soil  along 
the  Connecticut  is  very  prfsductive,  free  from  sand  and 
gravel,  and  easily  tilled.  The  original  growth  of  wood 
was  butternut.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  upland  is 
excellent  for  tillage.  Cape  Horn,  a  rugged  eminence, 
which  lises  abruptly  from  its  base,  is  situated  near  the 
centre  of  the  town.  Its  northern  base  is  separated  from 
the  Connecticut  by  a  narrow  plain,  and  the  Upper  Ammo 
noosuc  washes  its  eastern  side.  Here  the  meadows  are 
extensive,  and  are  annually  flowed  by  the  spring  freshets, 
presenting  the  appearance  of  a  large  lake.  The  scenery  is 
wild  and  beautiful.  The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  devoted  to 
agriculture,  and  are  somewhat  noted  for  raising  excellent 
stock,  although  they  do  not  excel  in  the  extent  of  their 
herds.    The  first  settlers  were  Thomas  Burnside  and  Daniel 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

Spaulding,  who,  with  their  families,  moved  here  in  June, 
1767.  Near  the  river,  on  the  plain  situated  north  of  Cape 
Horn  Mountain,  are  the  remains  of  a  fort,  erected  during 
the  revolutionary  war,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Jeremiah  Eames,  a  man  well  known  for  his  useful- 
ness and  social  disposition.  This  toAvn  was  incorporated 
November  16,  1779. 

Population,  429.  Number  of  polls,  128.  Inventory, 
$146,369.  Value  of  lands,  $59,434.  Stock  in  trade, 
$10,325.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $3500.  Number 
of  sheep,  698.     Do.  neat  stock,  628.     Do.  horses,  142. 

NoRTHWOOD,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Strafford,  east  by  Nottingham,  south  by  Nottingham  and 
Deerfield,  and  west  by  Epsom  and  Pittsfield.  Area,  17,075 
acres.  There  are  six  ponds  in  this  town  —  Suncook  Pond, 
750  rods  long,  and  100  wide ;  Jenners'  Pond,  300  rods 
long,  and  150  wide ;  Long  Pond,  300  rods  long,  and  50 
wide ;  Harvey's  Pond,  200  rods  long,  and  from  40  to  80 
wide ;  and  Pleasant  and  Little  Bow  Ponds.  A  part  of 
Great  Bow  Pond  also  lies  in  this  town.  The  north  branch 
of  Lamprey  River  has  its  source  near  Saddleback  Moun- 
tain, a  high  ridge  between  this  town  and  Deerfield.  On 
the  east  side  of  this  ridge  crystals  and  crystalline  spar  of 
various  colors  and  sizes  are  found.  Plumbago  occurs  in 
small  quantities,  but  of  superior  quality.  The  position  of 
Northwood  is  elevated,  commanding  an  extensive .  and 
delightful  view  of  the  ocean  and  the  intervening  country. 
The  soil  is  generally  moist,  and  suitable  for  grazing ;  in 
mild  seasons  excellent  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  are  raised. 
A  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  are  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  fehoes.  There  are  three  meeting  houses,  seven 
stores,  and  one  hotel.     The  Baptist  church  was  organized 


334  NEW    HAMPSHTRE    AS    IT    IS. 

in  1119,  the  Congregational  church  in  1781.  The,  Free- 
•vnll  Baptist  society  was  incorporated  in  1832.  Northwood 
originally  constituted  a  part  of  Nottingham.  It  was  settled, 
March  25,  1763,  by  Moses  Godfrey,  John  and  Increase 
Bachelder,  and  Solomon  Bickford.  It  was  incorporated 
February  6,  1773. 

Population,  1308.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
320.  Inventory,  .^392,063.  Value  of  lands,  $250,765. 
Stock  in  trade,  $8300.  Money  at  interest,  &c.,  $27,050. 
Number  of  sheep,  634.  Do.  neat  stock,  1079.  Do.  horses, 
212. 

NoTTiXGiiAM,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Northwood  and  Barrington,  east  by  Lee,  south  by  Epping 
and  Raymond,  and  west  by  Deerfield  and  Northwood.  Area, 
25,800  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  25  miles,  east; 
from  Portsmouth,  20,  west.  There  are  several  ponds,  most 
of  which  are  small.  Little  River  and  several  small  streams 
have  their  sources  in  this  town,  and  North  River  passes 
through  it.  The  centre  of  the  town  (Nottingham  Square) 
is  pleasantly  situated  on  an  eminence,  about  450  feet  above 
the  sea  level.  The  northern  and  north-western  parts  are 
quite  I'ocky  and  uneven,  but  in  general  the  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  pasturage,  and  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
The  Patuccoway  Mountains,  lying  on  the  line  between 
Nottingham  and  Deerfield,  consist  of  three  distinct  eleva- 
tions, rising  abruptly  from  the  vicinity  of  Round  Pond, 
and  arc  designated  as  the  ITpper,  Middle,  and  Lower 
Mountains.  On  the  latter  is  a  dike  of  g3»eenstone  trap, 
which  crosses  its  summit,  and  divides  it  into  two  nearly 
equal  parts.  This  dike  is  columnar,  and  on  the  face  of  a 
bate  ledge,  inclined  about  forty-five  degrees ;  it  assumes 
the  form  of  steps,  fifteen  or  sixteen  in  number,  and  about 

n 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  336 

nine  inches  in  height,  and  are  familiarly  called  the  "  Stairs." 
Near  the  centre  of  the  town  is  a  large  ledge  of  white 
granular  quartz,  which  affords  an  inexhaustible  supply  of 
this  valuable  material.  The  mountainous  parts  of  the  town 
were  formerly  the  haunts  of  beasts  of  prey.  Nottingham 
was  incorporated  May  10,  1722,  and  settled,  in  1727,  by 
Captain  Joseph  Cilley  and  others.  A  Congregational  church 
was  formed  in  1742.  During  the  last  Indian  war,  in  1752, 
a  Mr.  Beard,  ]Mrs.  Folsom,  and  Mrs.  Simpson  were  killed 
by  the  Indians.  General  Joseph  Cilley  and  Hon.  Thomas 
Bartlctt  were  distinguished  for  their  services  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  General  Henry  Butler  was  also  an  officer  in 
the  continental  army. 

Population,  12G8.  Number  of  polls,  254.  Inventory, 
$368,54'8.  Value  of  lands,  |248,310.  Stock  in  trade, 
$2505.  Value  of  mills,  |10,151.  Money  at  interest, 
$'19,105.  Number  of  sheep,  897.  Do.  neat  stock,  1153. 
Do.  horses,  168. 

Orange,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Dorches- 
ter, Groton,  and  Hebron,  east  by  Hebron  and  Alexandria, 
south  by  Grafton,  and  west  by  Canaan.  Area,  about 
16,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  north- 
west, by  the  Northern  Railroad,  which  passes  through  its 
south-western  corner ;  from  Haverhill,  50,  south-east. 
This  is  a  cold,  rugged  township,  affording  some  excellent 
pasturage  and  good  lumbw.  Many  mineral  substances  are 
found  here,  such  as  lead  and  iron  ore.  In  the  south-east 
part  of  the  town  is  a  small  pond,  from  which  is  taken  a 
species  of  paint  resembling  spruce  yellow.  Chalk,  inter- 
mixed with  magnesia,  has  been  found  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  pond.  Yellow  ochre,  of  a  quality  superior  to  that 
imported,  is  found  in  great  abundance  in  various  localities. 

4>  {■'-■■  ^ 


336  XEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Clay,  of  an  excellent  quality,  exists  in  different  parts  of 
the  town.  On  the  summit  of  the  elevated  land  which 
divides  the  waters  flowing  into  the  Connecticut  from  those 
which  flow  into  the  Merrimack,  a  series  of  deep  pit  holes 
occur  in  the  solid  rock,  one  of  which,  from  its  great  depth 
and  perfect  regularity,  is  called  the  "  Well."  It  is  near 
the  track  of  the  Northern  Railroad.  One  side  has  been 
broken  away,  so  that  a  concave  section  of  a  semi-cylinder 
is  seen.  Measuring  from  the  top  on  this  side  to  the  bottom, 
the  perpendicular  depth  is  eleven  feet.  The  stones  found 
in  it  were  rounded  and  polished,  indicating  a  violent  action 
of  water  here  at  some  period  in  the  existence  of  this  planet. 
This  summit  is  about  1000  feet  above  the  waters  of  the 
Connecticut  and  Merrimack.  The  rock  is  hard,  and  on  its 
surface  occur  the  scratches  usually  referred  to  the  ancient 
drifl  epoch. 

Orange  was  granted,  under  the  name  of  Cardigan, 
February  6,  1769,  to  Isaac  Fellows  and  others.  It  was 
first  settled,  in  1773,  by  Silas  Harris,  Benjamin  Shaw,  Da- 
vid Eames,  Colonel  Elisha  Bayne,  and  Captain  Joseph  Ken- 
ney.     Cardigan  Mountain  lies  in  the  east  part  of  the  town. 

Population,  451.  Number  of  polls,  102.  Inventory, 
$98,285.  Value  of  lands,  $53,351.  Do.  mills,  $3150. 
Stock  in  trade,  $2550.  Number  of  sheep,  1049.  Do. 
neat  stock,  364.     Do.  horses,  56. 

Orford,  Grafton  county.  Boyndcd  north  by  Piermont, 
east  by  Wentworth,  south  by  Lyme,  and  west  by  Fairlee, 
Vermont.  Area,  27,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
62  miles;  from  Haverhill,  12.  This  is  a  valuable  farming 
town.  The  soil  is  generally  fertile.  The  large  interval 
farms  on  the  Connecticut  are  well  tilled,  and,  with  the 
beautiful  village,  afford  a  charming  and  delightful  prospect. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  99t 

On  the  west  side  of  Cuba  Mountain  there  are  several 
beds  of  vahiablc  limestone,  some  of  Avhich  have  been 
wrought  fof  25  years.  The  limestone  is  granular,  but  does 
not  crumble  in  burning.  Specimens  of  quartz,  containing 
acicular  crj'stals  of  oxide  of  titanium,  exist  in  the  region 
of  this  mountain.  Near  Sunday  Mountain  is  a  bed  of  tai- 
cose  slate,  Avhich  answers  well  for  soapstone,  and  is  wrought 
to  a  considerable  extent.  Copper  pyrites,  black  sulphuret 
of  copper,  green  carbonate  of  copper,  magnetic  iron  ore, 
sulphuret  of  molybdena,  and  galena  are  found  in  various 
localities.  Kyanitc,  in  large  bladed  crystals  of  a  pale-blue 
color,  is  also  abundant. 

The  situation  of  the  village  is  both  pleasant  and  re- 
markable. It  stands  on  a  beautiful  plain,  bordered  by  in- 
tervals on  the  west.  Here  the  river  seems  to  recede 
towards  the  Vermont  shore,  leaving  a  rich  expansion  of  fer- 
tile meadow  on  the  New  Hampshire  side.  On  both  sides  of 
the  river  the  hills  approach  each  other  near  the-  centre  of 
the  expansion,  so  as  to  leave  only  a  narrow  strip  of  land  be- 
tween them  ;  and  such  is  the  similarity  in  form  of  the  lands 
at  either  end  of  the  narrow  strip,  or  neck,  that  the  whole  to- 
gether has  very  much  the  appearance  of  the  figure  8.  The 
greatest  width  of  each  division  is  one  and  a  half  miles,  and 
the  length  of  each  about  two  and  a  half  miles.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  river  there  is  barely  space  for  the  rail- 
road between  the  waters  and  the  terminus  of  the  bluff, 
which  rises  almost  perpendicularly  to  a  considerable 
height. 

T'he  village  contains  three  meeting  houses,  —  of  wliicli  the 
( 'ongregational  is  a  new,  costly,  and  splendid  edifice,  — 
one  aeademy,  —  which  is  a  large  and  handsome  building 
of  brick,  —  six  stores,  and  one  hotel,  which  is  in  every 
sense  a  home  for  the  traveller.  The  dwelling  houses,  sur- 
29  . 


338  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

rounded  by  spacious  yards  and  charming  gardens,  pre- 
sent the  appearance  of  elegance,  comfort,  and  wealth.  The 
pursuits  of  agriculture  are  crowned  with  abundant  success. 

Orfordville,  a  pleasant  and  flourishing  village,  is  situated 
about  two  miles  above  the  principal  village.  It  contains, 
besides  several  dwelling  houses,  an  extensive  tannery,  a 
chair  factory,  sash,  blind,  and  door  factory,  starch  fac- 
tory, planing  shop,  clapboard,  shingle,  lath,  and  carding 
mills,  and  one  valuable  gristmill.  There  are  also  ten  saw- 
mills in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Orford  Mill  River 
passing  nearly  through  the  centre  of  the  town,  furnishes 
most  of  the  water  power. 

The  religious  societies  are  two  Congregational  and  one 
Universalist. 

Orford  was  granted,  September  25,  1761,  to  Jonathan 
Moulton  and  others.  It  was  settled,  in  June,  1765,  by 
General  Israel  Morey,  John  Mann,  Esq.,  a  Mr.  Caswell, 
and  one  Cross.  The  Congregational  church  was  formed 
August  27,  1770. 

Population,  1406.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
347.  Do.  common  schools,  16.  Inventory,  $631,574. 
Value  of  lands,  $389,088.  Do.  mills  and  factories, 
$13,600.  Stock  in  trade,  $18,190.  Money  at  interest, 
$77,296.  Number  of  sheep,  6094.  Do.  neat  stock,  1591. 
Do.  horses,  289. 

OssiPEE,  shire  town  of  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Tamworth,  north-east  by  Freedom  and  Effingham, 
south-east  by  Wakefield,  and  west  by  Wolfborough,  Tuf- 
tonborough,  Moultonborough,  and  Sandwich.  Distance 
from  Concord,  60  miles,  north-cast.  This  is  an  uneven, 
and,  in  some  parts,  rocky  and  mountainous  township,  af- 
fording excellent  pasturage.     The  soil  is  strong  and  deep. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  98^' 

Wheat  and  potatoes  of  excellent  quality  are  raised  here. 
Ossipee  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  lies  mostly  in  this 
town.  Its  form  is  elliptical,  and  covers  about  7000  acres. 
Ossipee  River  is  its  outlet.  Pine  and  Bear  Camp  Rivers 
flow  through  the  western  and  north-western  parts.  There 
are  also  several  ponds,  of  which  Bear  Pond,  in  the  south- 
cast  part,  has  no  visible  outlet.  Ossipee  Mountain,  situated 
about  four  miles  north-easterly  from  Winnipiseogee  Lake, 
is  composed  of  several  distinct  peaks,  the  most  lofty  of 
which  is  2361  feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  is  well  wooded 
to  its  summit.  The  rock  is  gneiss,  covered  with  numerous 
fragments  of  trap,  of  a  dull  bluish  color.  Near  the  foot 
of  the  mountain  is  a  beautiful  little  cascade,  which  attracts 
numerous  visitors.  Near  the  Avestern  shore  of  Ossipee 
Lake  is  a  circular  mound,  about  50  feet  in  diameter  and 
10  feet  in  height,  from  which  have  been  taken  several  entire 
skeletons,  hatchets,  tomahawks,  &c. 

Ossipee  was  incorporated  February  22,  1785. 

Population,  2122.  Number  of  polls,  420.  Inventory, 
,f  390,938.  Value  of  lands,  |2 11,389.  Stock  in  trade, 
$7570.  Value  of  mills,  |4955.  Money  at  interest,  $9800. 
Number  of  sheep,  969.  Do.  neat  stock,  1872.  Do, 
horses,    285. 

Pelham,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Windham,  east  by  Salem,  and  by  LaAvrence,  Massachusetts, 
south  by  Dracut,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Hudson. 
Distance  from  Concord,  37  miles  south.  Beaver  River  is 
the  principal  stream,  on  Avhich,  and  its  tributaries,  is  much 
valuable  interval.  The  uplands  are  good  for  grazing  and 
the  cultivation  of  fruit.  The  proximity  of  this  town  to 
Lowell,  Lawrence,  and  Haverhill,  particularly  to  Lowell, 
which  is  only  six  miles  distant,  affords  a  ready  and  conven- 


340  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

ie»t  market  for  produce  of  all  kinds.  All  the  varieties  of 
fruit  common  to  this  latitude  are  raised  here  in  great  abun- 
dance. Granite  of  a  superior  quality  is  found  in  inex^ 
haustible  quantities  here.  It  is  taken  to  Nashua,  LoweU, 
Lawrence,  and  Haverhill,  for  building  purposes. 

There  are  two  meeting  houses,  one  academy,  two  wool- 
len factories,  where  30  hands  are  employed,  two  stores,  one 
hotel,  one  wheelwright  and  carriage  shop,  three  blacksmith 
shops,  and  one  manufactory  of  pruning  shears. 

The  first  settlements  in  this  town  were  made  in  1722, 
by  Jolin  Butler,  William  Richardson,  and  others.  It  was 
formerly  included  in  Wheelwright's  purchase  and  Mason's 
patent.  The  town  was  incorporated  July  5,  1746.  At 
the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war,  Pelham  contained  700 
inhabitants,  and  87  of  the  citizens  were  enrolled  on  the 
li^ts  of  the  army.  A  Congregational  church  was  formed 
November  13,  1751. 

Population,  1071.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
244.  Inventory,  $501,279.  Value  of  lands,  |33 1,950. 
Do.  mills  and  factories,  $10,700.  Stock  in  trade,  $4792. 
Money  at  interest,  $39,475.  Number  of  sheep,  218. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1008.     Do.  horses,  152. 

Pembroke,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north-east 
and  east  by  Cliichester  and  Epsom,  south-east  and  south  by 
Allenstown  and  Hooksett,  south-west  by  Bow,  and  north- 
w.est  by  Concord.  Area,  10,240  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  six  miles.  This  town  is  well  watered.  The 
Suncook,  on  the  south-eastern  boundary,  affords  several 
valuable  Avater  privileges.  The  main  street  extends  in  a 
straight  course,  nearly  parallel  with  the  Merrimack,  about 
t\\xe&  miles,  and,,  with  its  fertile  fields  and  neat  residences, 
presents  a  very  handsome  appearance.     On  this  street  are 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  8l41 

situated  two  academies,  two  meeting  houses,  one  hotel,  And 
two  stores. 

The  soil  is  various,  and  generally  productive.  On  the 
rivers  are  small  but  valuable  tracts  of  interval ;  and  from 
these  the  land  rises  in  extensive  and  beautiful  swells,  Avhich 
yield  abundantly  when  properly  cultivated.  It  is  connect- 
ed with  Portsmouth  and  Concord  by  the  railroad  named 
after  these  towns. 

The  Chelmsford  Glass  Company  manufacture  glass  here. 

Suncook  Village,  an  active  and  thriving  place,  is  the  seat 
of  considerable  business.  Quite  recently  its  growth  has 
been  much  retarded  by  a  destructive  fire. 

The  Pembroke  Mills,  situated  on  the  Suncook  Riv^r, 
contain  10,985  spindles  and  300  looms.  240,000  yards 
of  sheetings  and  printing  goods  are  manufactured  annually, 
and  552,000  pounds  of  cotton  consumed  in  the  same  time. 
Number  of  hands  employed,  250. 

The  Indian  name  for  this  territory  was  Suncook.  It 
was  granted  under  this  name  in  May,  1727,  by  Massachu- 
setts, to  the  brave  Captain  John  Lovewell  and  his  faithful 
comrades,  in  consid^ftition  of  their  services  against  the  In- 
dians. The  whole  number  was  60,  46  of  whom  accom- 
panied Lovewell  in  his  last  march  to  Pequawkett. 

The  settlements  increased  slowly  in  consequence  of  the 
frequent  alarms  from  the  Indians,  who  committed  many 
depredations  upon  the  property  of  the  inhabitants.  James 
Carr,  killed  May  1,  1748,  was  the  only  person  in  this  town 
who  lost  his  life  by  the  Indians.  It  was  incorporated  by 
its  present  name  November  1,  1759.  This  town  was  deep- 
ly concerned  in  the  tedious  dispute  maintained  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  Bow  against  the  grantees  of  lands  in  this  vicin- 
ity. A  Congregational  church  was  organized  here  Marcli 
1,  1737. 

29* 


S42  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Population,  1732.     Number  of  polls,  335.  Inventory, 

#583,470.     Value  of  lands,  $317,946.      Do.  mills   and 

factories,  $62,750.     Stock  in  trade,  $13,250.  Money  at 

interest,  $71,240.      Number    of   sheep,   506.  Do.   neat 
stock,  977.     Do.  horses,  184. 

Peterborough,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north 
by  Hancock  and  Greenfield,  east  by  Greenfield  and  Temple, 
south  by  Sharon,  and  west  by  JafFrey  and  Dublin.  Area, 
23,780  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles,  south- 
west ;  from  Amherst,  20,  west.  This  town  lies  in  a  north- 
east direction  from  the  Grand  Monadnock,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  east  by  a  chain  of  hills  called  Pack's  Monadnock. 
Contoocook  River  runs  in  a  northerly  direction  through  the 
centre  of  the  town,  affording  several  valuable  water  privi- 
leges. The  North  Branch  River,  originating  from  several 
ponds,  affords  a  constant  supply  of  water.  On  this  stream 
are  some  of  the  best  waterfalls  in  the  state.  Above  these 
falls  are  extensive  and  valuable  meadows  ;  the  soil  through- 
out the  town  is  highly  productive.  The  surface  is  beauti- 
fully diversified  with  hills,  vales,  meadows,  broad  swells, 
brooks,  rivulets,  and  rapidly -flowing  rivers.  The  air 
and  waters  arc  pure,  and  the  inhabitants  are  remarkably 
healthy.  Notwithstanding  the  high  rank  of  Peterborough 
as  a  farming  town,  it  owes  its  importance  and  prosperity 
chiefly  to  its  manufacturing  facilities.  It  has  long  been  a 
manufacturing  town,  a  cotton  mill  having  been  put  in  oper- 
ation as  early  as  1808. 

The  Phoenix  Factory  was  incorporated  in  1820,  although 
it  had  already  been  in  operation  several  years.  Capital, 
$100,000.  Goods  manufactured,  drillings  and  sheetings. 
Number  of  spindles,  4224.  Do.  looms,  100.  Number  of 
yarn,  28  in  sheetings,  18  in  drillings.     Width  of  sheetings. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  34S 

48  to  100  inches.  Number  of  pounds  of  cotton  consumed 
annually,  200,000.  Do.  operatives,  100.  Frederic  Lir- 
ingston  agent. 

Peterborough  Manufacturing  Company  —  incorporated  in 
1823.  This  is  the  old  Peterborough  Cotton  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  which  was  incorporated  in  1808.  Capital, 
$50,000.  Number  of  spindles,  1604.  Do.  looms,  41. 
(ioods  manufactured,  sheetings  ;  width,  84  inches.  Num- 
ber of  yarn,  18.  Do.  pounds  cotton  consumed  per  annum,' 
115,000.  Do.  hands,  50.  This  company  also  have  a 
separate  mill  for  making  batting.  Frederic  Livingston 
agent. 

Union  Manufacturing  Company  —  J.  W.  Little  super- 
intendent. Capital,  $100,000.  Number  of  spindles, 
2792.  Do.  looms,  75.  Kind  of  goods,  sheetings  and 
shirtings.  Number  of  yarn,  40.  Do.  povmds  cotton  con- 
sumed per  annum,  100,000.     Do.  hands  employed,  75. 

North  Factory  Company.  Capital,  1 10,000.  Number 
of  spindles,  984.  Do.  looms,  20.  Kind  of  goods, 
drillings.  Number  of  yards  manufactured  per  annum, 
256,000.     Do.  hands,  25.     Eli  S.  Hunt  agent. 

Woollen  Factory,  South  Village  —  Noone  &  Cochran 
proprietors.  ^lanufacture  flannels.  Number  of  yards 
manufactured  per  annum,  147,256,  principally  twilled 
flannels.  Capital,  |24,000.  Number  of  hands,  24. 
.James  Gallop  superintendent. 

David  Clark,  manufacturer  of  mahogany  tables.  Num- 
ber of  hands  employed,  8.  Yearly  amount  of  business, 
S5000. 

J.  F.  Johnson,  sash,  door,  and  blind  maker. 

Iron  Foundery  —  John  Smith,  2d. 

Paper  Mill  —  A.  P.  Morrison. 

There  are  also  thirty-one  stores   and  shops  of  various 


•544  SEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

descriptions,  five  meeting  houses,  one  academy,  and  two 
hotels. 

The  Peterborough  Bank  was  incorporated  July  15, 
1854.     Capital,  .$50,000. 

The  Peterborough  Transcript,  a  weekly  journal,  is  pub- 
lished in  this  town. 

This  town  was  granted  in  1738,  by  the  government  of 
Massachusetts,  to  Samuel  Hey  wood  and  others.  The  first 
settlers  were  much  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  Indians, 
as  will  appear  from  the  following  petition,  the  original  of 
which  was  found  among  the  Massachusetts  state  papers  :  — 

"  To  His  Honour,  Spencer  Phips  Esqu  Lieutenent 
Governor,  and  Commander  in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majes- 
ty's Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 
The  Hon^'^  the  Council  and  Hon'''*'  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  said  Province  in  General  Court  assembled  at  Bos- 
ton September  26  1T50.  The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers, 
Proprietors  and  Inhabitants  of  a  Township  called  Petterboro' 
for  themselves,  and  the.  other  Proprietors  and  Inhabitants 
of  said  Township.  Most  Humbly  Show,  That  the  said 
Township  lyes  Exposed  to  the  Indians  it  being  a  Frontier 
Town  and  but  about  Six  Miles  North  from  the  line  parting 
this  Government  and  that  of  New  Hampshire  And  Several 
Indians  have  appeared  in  said  Township  and  last  Sabbath 
day  some  of  them  broke  open  a  House  there  and  none  of 
the  family  being  at  home  RifHed  the  same  and  Carried 
dway  many  things  And  the  Inhabitants  are  put  in  Great 
Fear  and  Terror  of  their  lives  by  the  Indians,  so  that  they 
must  be  Obliged  to  leave  the  Town,  which  is  now  very 
Considerably  Settled  Unless  they  can  have  some  Relief 
from  the  Great  Goodness  of  Your  Honours.  And  for  as 
much  as  the  said  Township  is  so  Situated  That  if  the  In- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  345 

habitants  should  leave  it,  Townsend,  Hollis  Lunenburg 
Leominster  and  Lancaster  would  be  Exposed  to  the  Cruel- 
ty of  the  Indians  and  •would  become  an  easy  prey  to  them 
But  if  your  pet""  can  be  protected  by  Your  Honours,  and 
have  a  Number  of  Men  sent  to  their  AssisUvnce  and  a  few 
Block  houses  or  a  Fort  built  for  them,  they  make  no 
doubt,  with  the  Blessing  of  God,  they  shall  be  able  to 
Defend  the  said  Township  and  to  keep  the  Indians  from 
making  any  Attempts  on  the  Towns  aforementioned  which 
are  all  Surrounded  by  said  Peterborough  Your  pet""  there- 
fore Most  humbly  pray  Your  Honours  would  be  pleased  to 
take  their  Distressed  Circumstances  into  Consideration  and 
Allow  them  Liberty  at  the  Charge  of  the  Government  to 
Build  Block  houses  or  a  Fort  and  supply  them  with  fifteen 
or  Twenty  men  for  such  men  for  such  a  length  of  time  as 
your  Honours  shall  think  proper  that  so  they  may  defend 
the  said  Township  against  the  Indians  and  by  that  means 
Serve  the  Province  by  Securing  the  other  Towns  aforesaid 
from  falling  into  the  Indians  hands  Or  that  Your  Honours 
would  Grant  them  such  other  Relief  as  in  your  Great  Wis- 
dom shall  seem  meet.  And  as  in  duty  Bound  they  will 
ever  pray,  «S:c.      Boston  Oct,  4''*  1T50. 

thomas  Morrison      John  white  John  Hill 

Alexe  Babbe  James  Gordon     William  Scott 

Jjimes  michel  John  Smith  thomas  Vender 

william  Robb. 
In  council,  Oct.  (J,  1750.     Read  and  Sent  down." 

The  first  settlers  were  Scotch  Presbyterians  from  Ireland. 
Being  wholly  unaccustomed  to  clearing  and  cultivating 
wild  lands,  they  suftered  great  privations.  Their  nearest 
gristmill  was  in  Townsend,  a  distance  of  25  miles ;  their 
only  road  a  line  of  marked  trees.     Peterborough  has  fur- 


346  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    16. 

nished  a  large  number  of  worthy  and  distinguished  men, 
who  have  adorned  the  bench,  the  pulpit,  the  bar,  the  halls 
of  Legislature  and  of  Congress,  and  the  chair  of  state. 
This  town  was  incorporated  January  17,  1760.  The  Con- 
gregational church  was  organized  October  23,  1799. 

Population,  2222.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
494.  Inventory,  |900,950.  Value  of  lands,  |467,651. 
Do.  mills  and  factories,  $108,900.  Stock  in  trade, 
$37,030.  Money  at  interest,  |107,232.  Number  of 
sheep,  789.     Do.  neat  stock,  1694.     Do.  horses,  337. 

PiERMONT,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Haver- 
hill, east  by  Warren,  south  by  Orford,  and  west  by  Brad- 
ford, Vermont.  Area,  23,000  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 75  miles,  by  the  Passumpsic  and  Northern  Railroads ; 
from  Haverhill,  8,  south.  The  surface  is  somewhat  hilly, 
though  the  soil  is  strong,  affording  excellent  pasturage. 
The  interval  on  the  Connecticut  is  extensive,  and  under 
high  cultivation.  Excellent  Avheat  is  raised  in  this  town. 
The  plains  adjoining  the  interval  are  composed  of  a  sandy 
loam,  in  which,  in  some  places,  marl  predominates.  Iron 
Ore  Hill  contains  inexhaustible  quantities  of  specular  and 
magnetic  iron  ore,  of  a  very  superior  quality.  The  veins 
are  from  10  to  15  feet  in  width.  This  is  now  extensively 
wrought.  From  the  summit  of  this  hill  a  picturesque 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  is  obtained.  A  layer  of 
rocks  extending  through  the  town  in  a  direction  north  and 
south  is  extensively  quarried,  and  manufactured  into  scythe 
stones.  Peaked  and  Black  Mountains  are  the  principal 
elevations.  Eastman's  Brook,  flowing  from  a  pond  of  the 
same  name,  is  a  large  mill  stream,  on  which  are  three  saw- 
mills, one  gristmill,  two  shingle  mills,  and  other  works. 
In  the  principal  village  are  two  meeting  houses,  two  stores, 


GAZETTEEK    OK    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  347 

one  hotel,  and  one  tinware  manufactory.  The  inhabitants 
are  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture.  Piermont  was  granted, 
November  G,  1764,  to  John  Temple  and  59  others.  The 
first  settlement  was  in  1770.  A  Congregational  church 
was  formed  in  1771.  There  is  also  a  society  of  Methodists 
and  Christians. 

Population,  948.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  200. 
Common  schools,  13.  Inventory,  ^334,147.  Value  of 
lands,  $231,350.  Stock  in  trade,  $1300.  Money  at  in- 
terest, $12,218.  Number  of  sheep,  4082.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1137.     Do.  horses,  199. 

Pittsburgh,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  the  high- 
lands that  divide  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  from  those 
that  fall  into  the  Connecticut,  east  by  the  State  of  Maine, 
south  by  Connecticut  River,  and  west  by  Hall's  Stream. 
The  area  is  over  200,000  acres.  This  is  the  northernmost, 
as  well  as  by  for  the  largest,  town  in  the  state.  The  soil  is 
well  adapted  to  grazing.  Indian  corn,  buckwheat,  and  the 
English  grains  are  extensively  and  successfully  cultivated. 
The  forests  are  finely  timbered  with  spruce,  birch,  beech, 
sugar  and  rock  maple,  and  a  small  growth  of  white  pine. 
The  face  of  the  country  is  broken  and  uneven,  excepting 
along  the  banks  of  the  streams,  which  in  many  places  are 
spread  out  into  large  tracts  of  interval.  Indian  Stream, 
Hall's  Stream,  and  Perry's  Stream  are  within  the  limits  of 
this  town,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  warm  season,  as 
well  as  in  the  fall,  timber  may  be  floated  upon  them  for 
several  miles.  Connecticut  Lake  lies  in  the  north-east  part 
of  the  town,  is  nearly  four  miles  long  and  three  wide,  and 
is  the  source  of  Connecticut  River.  Second  Lake  lies 
about  four  miles  above  Connecticut  Lake,  and  is  connected 
with  it  by  a  considerable  stream.     It  is  about  two  miles 


348  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

and  a  half  in  length  and  one  and  three  fourths  in  width. 
Third  Lake  lies  about  two  miles  above  Second  Lake,  and 
covers  about  200  acres.  It  is  situated  near  the  highlands, 
separating  New  Hampshire  from  Canada.  Moose,  deer, 
and  sable,  &c.,  are  found  here  in  great  abundance.  The 
lakes  and  streams  swarm  with  pickerel,  trout,  eels,  suck- 
ers, &c,  while  the  otter,  mink,  and  muskrat  are  found 
along  the  banks.  Pittsburg  includes  that  formerly  known 
as  the  Indian  Stream  Territory,  and  was  the  seat  of  the 
celebrated  Indian  Stream  war.  llic  jurisdiction  of  the 
county  Avas  in  dispute  between  the  British  and  American 
governments,  which  was  settled  by  the  Webster  and  Ash- 
burton  treaty  of  1842.  It  also  embraces  Carlisle  grant, 
Colebrook  Academy  grant,  and  about  60,000  acres  of  the 
public  lands  belonging  to  the  state.  Among  the  first  set- 
tlers were  General  Moody  Bedel,  who  rendered  his  coun- 
try faithful  service  in  the  war  of  1812,  John  Haines, 
Esq.,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Perkins,  Jeremiah  Tabor,  Ebenezer 
Fletcher,  and  about  50  others,  who  claimed  to  hold  their 
lands  —  200  acres  each  —  by  proprietary  grants,  which, 
however,  were  repudiated  by  the  state ;  but  considering 
the  hardships  and  privations  endured  by  these  settlers,  the 
state  reinvested  them  in  their  possessions.  Pittsburg  was 
first  settled  about  1810.  There  are  two  religious  societies, 
—  Methodists  and  Christians,  —  seven  common  schools, 
one  store,  one  potato  starch  factory,  four  sawmills,  two 
flouring  mills,  and  one  rake  manufactory. 

Its  present  population  is  about  500.  Number  of  legal 
voters,  100.  Inventory,  ,^7(5, (503.  Value  of  lands, 
|40,530.  Do.  mills,  $1550.  Money  at  interest,  |1700. 
Number  of  sheep,  662.  Do.  neat  stock,  497.  Do.  horses, 
69.      It  was  incorporated  December  10,  1840. 


GAZETTEER  OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  S49 

PiTTSFiELD,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
Barnstead,  south-east  by  Strafford  and  Northwood,  south- 
west by  Chichester  and  Epsom,  and  north-west  by  Loudon. 
Area,  14,921  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  15  miles, 
north-east.  The  surface  is  uneven  and  rocky,  but  the  soil 
is  fertile.  Suncook  River  passes  through  this  town  in  a 
southerly  direction,  affording  several  excellent  water  privi- 
leges. Catamount  Mountain  extends  across  the  south-east 
part  of  the  town.  It  is  1415  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  which  may  be  seen  from  its  summit.  Monadnock, 
Kearsarge,  Moosehillock,  and  the  White  Mountains,  also, 
are  visible  from  its  top  ;  thus  rendering  the  prospect  varied, 
extensive,  and  grand.  Berry's  Fond,  about  half  a  mile  in 
length  and  fifty  rods  in  width,  is  on  this  mountain.  In 
Wild  Goose  Pond  large  masses  of  bog  iron  ore  have  been 
found.  A  short  distance  north-east  from  the  village  ia 
a  chalybeate  spring,  impregnated  with  sulphur.  Black 
tourmaline  and  magnetic  iron  ore  are  found  in  a  few  locali- 
ties. Peat  bogs  are  numerous,  several  of  which  have 
been  reclaimed,  and  yield  three  and  a  half  tons  of  hay  to 
the  acre.  The  village  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  contains 
three  meeting  houses,  one  academy,  nine  stores,  one  hotel, 
and  one  cotton  manufactory,  with  a  capital  of  $160,000, 
where  150  hands  are  employed.  There  is  a  society  of 
Friends  here,  who  have  also  a  house  of  worship.  Pitts- 
field  was  incorporated  March  27,  1782.  The  Congrega- 
tional church  was  organized  in  1789  ;  the  Baptist  church  in 
1801.     There  is  also  a  large  society  of  Freewill  Baptists. 

Population,  1828.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
460.  Common  schools,  10.  Inventory,  $566,592.  Value 
of  lands,  $359,206.  Do.  mills,  $4675.  Stock  in  trade, 
$13,725.  Money  at  interest,  $26,189.  Number  of  sheep 
700.  Do.  neat  stock,  1163.  Do.  horses,  239. 
30  * 


360  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Plainfield,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Leb- 
■inon,  east  by  Grantham,  south  by  Cornish,  and  west  by 
Hartland,  A^ermont.  Area,  23,221  acres.  Distance  from 
Concord,  60  miles,  north-west ;  from  Newport,  17,  north- 
west ;  from  Dartmouth  College,  12,  south.  Connecticut 
Kiver  touches  its  western  border,  along  which  are  extensive 
tracts  of  valuable  interval.  In  other  parts  there  are  many 
fertile  meadows.  A  small  stream,  which  has  its  source  in 
Croydon  jNIountains,  waters  the  town.  There  is  no  water 
power  of  any  considerable  importance.  The  surface  is 
varied.  The  soil  is  generally  strong  and  fertile  ;  in  a  few 
localities  it  is  hard  and  stony.  This  is  an  excellent  town 
for  grazing  and  the  raising  of  stock.  Limestone  of  good 
quality  is  found  in  the  western  portion,  in  several  places. 

Plainfield  Plain  is  a  small  but  pleasant  village,  situat- 
ed on  the  banks  of  the  (Connecticut,  and  contains  two  meet- 
ing houses,  a  post  office,  two  stores,  and  several  shops. 

East  Plainfield  contains  a  few  houses,  and  a  meeting 
house,  erected  several  years  since  by  the  Baptist  society, 
but  which  has  been  unoccupied  for  some  time.  The  soil 
in  this  vicinity  is  somewhat  cold  and  rugged. 

Meriden  is  a  pleasant  and  healthy  village,  situated  on  a 
gentle  eminence,  upon  the  top  of  which  is  a  handsome 
school  house,  a  meeting  house,  two  stores,  a  large  hotel,  sev- 
eral dwelling  houses,  and  Kimball  Union  Academy,  a  wide- 
ly-known and  distinguished  literary  institution.  It  was 
endowed  with  a  permanent  fund  of  $40,000,  a  liberal 
bequest  of  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  Kimball.  Of  the  income 
of  this  fund,  $150  is  annually  applied  towards  the  support 
of  a  preacher  ;  the  remainder  in  aid  of  young  men  wlio 
contemplate  entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  A 
few  years  since  an  appropriation  of  $12,000  was  made  by 
the  widow  of  Mr.  Kimball  towards  the  establishment  of  a 


CxAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE,  351 

female  department,  and  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings 
for  that  purpose.  A  large,  beautiful,  and  substantial  edifice 
was  built,  upon  the  lower  floor  of  which  are  the  chapel,  a 
spacious  and  well-finished  room,  and  a  reading  room.  On 
the  second  floor  are  recitation  rooms,  the  room  contain- 
ing the  library  and  mineral  cabinet,  and  a  few  rooms  for 
the  use  of  students.  The  upper  or  third  story  is  divided 
into  apartments  for  students.  This  new  structure  is  joined 
at  right  angles  with  the  old  building,  which  is  used  for 
lecture  rooms,  laboratory,  apparatus  room,  &c.  The  board 
of  instructors  is  large,  and  made  up  of  permanent  and  ex- 
perienced teachers.  The  modes  of  instruction,  and  the  suc- 
cess which  has  hitherto  attended  the  efforts  of  the  trustees 
and  teachers  of  this  institution,  are  too  generally  known  to 
admit  of  description.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  no  efforts  are 
spared  to  promote  the  health  and  advancement,  both  moral 
and  intellectual,  of  the  student.  It  was  incorporated  June 
16,  1813. 

On  the  "  Flat,"  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Academy, 
is  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  a  handsome  edifice,  containing 
a  bell,  which  for  sweetness  and  sonorousness  is  seldom 
equalled.     The  village  contains  many  pleasant  residences. 

Plainficld  was  granted  August  14,  1761,  and  was  settled 
in  1764,  by  L.  Nash  and  J.  Russell.  A  Congregational 
church  was  organized  in  1765.  The  Baptist  church  was 
formed  in  1792. 

Population,  1392.  Number  of  polls,  300.  Inventory, 
$521,759.  Value  of  lands,  $330,710.  Do.  mills,  $1700. 
Stock  in  trade,  $2900.  Money  at  interest,  $39,901. 
Number  of  sheep,  9860.  Do.  neat  stock,  1256.  Do. 
horses,  283. 

Plaistow,  Rockingham    county.     Bounded   north  and 


M^  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

uorth-east  by  Kingston,  east  by  Newton,  soutb  by  Havei"- 
hiil,  Massachusetts,  And  west  by  Atkinson.  Area,  6839 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  36  miles,  south-cast ;  from 
Portsmouth,  30,  south-west.  The  soil  is  good,  being  a 
mixture  of  black  loam,  clay,  and  gravel.  In  the  north- 
Avest  part  the  surface  is  rocky  and  uneven.  Various  min- 
eral substances  have  been  discovered  in  this  section.  Clay 
of  a  very  good  quality  is  found  in  great  abundance  near 
the  centre. 

The  village  is  pleasantly  located,  and  contains  two 
meeting  houses,  two  stores,  and  one  hotel.  The  inhabit- 
ants are  chiefly  engaged  in  farming,  and  the  many  thrifty 
farms  attest  their  industry  and  skill. 

Plaistow  "was  formerly  a  part  of  Haverhill,  and  included 
in  the  Indian  purchase  of  1642.  Its  settlement  com- 
menced early,  but  the  precise  date  is  not  known.  Among 
the  first  settlers  were  Captain  Charles  Bartlett,  Nicholas 
White,  Esq.,  Deacon  Benjamin  Kimball,  and  J.  Harriman. 
The  Congregational  church  was  organized  December  2, 
1730.  Deacon  J.  Harriman  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
man  in  New  Hampshire  who  embraced  the  Ikxptist  persua- 
sion. After  this  town  was  annexed  to  New  Hampshire,  it 
was  incorporated,  February  28,  1749. 

Population,  748.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  202. 
Do.  common  schools,  4.  Inventory,  $236,878.  Value  of 
lands,  $167,862.  Stock  in  trade,  |32e50.  Value  of  mills, 
$1200.     Money  at  interest,  $3552. 

Plymouth,  one  of  the  shire  towns  of  Graftoh  county. 
Bounded  north  by  Ilumney  and  (Jampton,  east  by  Hol- 
derness,  south  by  Bridge  water,  and  west  by  Hebron  and 
Rumney.  Area,  16,256  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  51 
miles,  north,  by  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Rail- 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  353 

road.  This  town  is  well  watered  by  numerous  small 
streams  in  various  parts,  as  well  as  by  Pemigewasset  and 
Baker's  Rivers,  both  of  which  arc  of  considerable  impor- 
tance. Baker's  River  is  about  30  miles  in  length.  The 
surface  is  beautifully  diversified  Avith  hill  and  valley,  mead- 
ow and  plain.  The  soil  is  good.  Several  farms  in  this 
town  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  village  is 
one  of  the  pleasantest  in  New  Hampshire.  It  is  well  or- 
namented with  trees,  and  the  roads  leading  towards  it  from 
various  directions  are  shaded  by  graceful  and  venerable 
elms.  The  dwelling  houses  are  large,  and  many  of  them 
elegant  in  structure.  Its  facilities  for  trade,  owing  to  its 
convenient  location  with  respect  to  the  surrounding  towns, 
are  great  and  valuable.  Especially  is  this  true  s-ince  the 
construction  of  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Rail- 
road. The  public  house  is  large  and  well  constructed. 
The  ■  grounds  around  it  are  beautifully  arranged,  and  the 
whole  presents  an  inviting  appearance  to  the  traveller.  The 
Court  House  is  a  handsome  building,  of  brick.  There  are 
two  meeting  houses  here,  besides  several  stores  and  shops. 

Plymouth  AAas  granted,  July  15,  176o,  to  Joseph  Blan- 
chard  and  others.  The  first  settlement  was  made  in  August, 
1T64,  by  Zachariah  Parker  and  James  Hobart.  In  the 
following  autumn  they  were  joined  by  Jotham  Cumings, 
Josiah  Brown,  Stephen  Webster,  Ephraim  Weston,  David 
Webster,  and  James  Blodgett.  The  Congregational  church 
was  organized  in  1765.  A  Methodist  church  was  formed 
in  1803.  The  intervals  in  this  town  were  doubtless  favor- 
ite resorts  of  the  Indians  for  hunting.  At  the  mouth  of 
Baker's  River,  according  to  tradition,  they  had  a  settle- 
ment. Indian  graves,  bones,  gun  barrels,  stone  mortars, 
pestles,  and  other  utensils  have  been  found  here.  At  this 
place  the  Indians,  it  is  said,  were  attacked  by  Captain 
30* 


354  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Baker,  with  a  party  of  men  from  Haverhill,  Massachusetts, 
who  routed  them,  killed  a  large  number,  and  seized  a  great 
quantity  of  furs  which  they  had  collected. 

Deacon  Noah  Johnson,  one  of  Lovewell's  men,  died 
here  in  the  100th  year  of  his  age. 

Population,  1290.  Number  of  polls,  297.  Inventory, 
$311,658.  Value  of  lands,  $172,902.  Stock  in  trade, 
$14,788.  Money  at  interest,  $19,448.  Number  of  sheep, 
1106.     Do.  neat  stock,  1047.     Do.  horses,  182. 

Poplin,  —  name  changed  to  Freemont  in  1854,  — 
Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Epping,  east  by 
Brentwood,  south  by  Danville  and  vSandown,  and  west  by 
Chester  and  Eaymond.  Area,  10,320  acres.  This  town 
is  watered  by  Exeter  River  and  several  small  streams.  The 
surface  is  mostly  even,  and  is  either  plain  or  rises  in  moder- 
ate swells.  The  soil  is  of  a  good  quality,  and  in  general  is 
well  cultivated.  The  chief  pursuit  of  the  inhabitants  is 
farming,  which  abundantly  repays  the  efforts  of  honest  toil. 
The  superfluities  of  wealth  are  not  coveted,  neither  are  the 
miseries  of  poverty  endured  ;  but  competency,  the  happiest 
condition  of  man,  is  a  blessing  widely  enjoyed. 

This  town  was  incorporated  June  22,  1764.  The  date 
of  its  first  settlement  is  not  known.  A  Methodist  church 
was  organized  at  an  early  period. 

Population,  509.  Number  of  polls,  127.  Inventory, 
$189,554.  Value  of  lands,  $123,652.  Stock  in  trade, 
$2750.  Value  of  mills,  $2816.  Money  at  interest,  $3700 
Number  of  sheep,  419.  Do.  neat  stock,  437.  Do.  horses, 
73. 

Portsmouth,  seaport,  and  half  shire  town  of  Rocking- 
ham county.     In  connection  with  its  wealth  and  other  ad- 


GAZErrEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  366 

vantages,  the  fact  that  Portsmouth  is  the  only  seaport  in 
the  state,  and  its  harbor  one  of  the  safest  and  most  commo- 
dious in  the  country,  renders  it,  perhaps,  the  most  impor- 
tant town  in  Ncav  Hampshire.  It  is  situated  on  a  peninsu- 
la on  the  south  side  of  Piscataqua  River,  three  miles  from 
the  ocean.  Its  location  is  pleasant  and  healthy  —  the  land 
sloping  by  a  gentle  declivity  towards  the  harbor.  In 
the  central  or  business  part  of  the  city  the  streets  are 
mostly  paved.  The  buildings  are  of  brick,  and  of  a  style 
somewhat  antiquated  ;  but  there  are  many  well-constructed 
and  elegant  mansions.  "  As  for  antiquity,  the  city  of 
Portsmouth  is  one  of  the  earliest  discovered  and  first  set- 
tled places  in  New  England.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  some  merchants  of  Bristol,  England, 
having  formed  a  private  company  for  the  investigation  of 
this  country,  employed  for  that  service  Captain  Martin 
Pring,  of  Bristol,  a  skilful  navigator,  and  much  praised  by 
Gorges.  They  placed  under  his  command  two  vessels,  aus- 
piciously named  the  Speedwell  and  the  Discoverer.  In 
the  year  1603  ho  set  sail  for  America,  and  was  enabled 
to  speed  so  locll  as  to  be  the  first  discoverer  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. Just  250  years  ago  (i.  c.,  from  1853)  he  entered 
the  channel  of  our  river,  and  explored  it  for  three  or  four 
leagues.  He  landed  on  this  shore,  and  doubtless,  with  his 
companions,  trod  upon  the  soil  of  this  city ;  for  he  came 
in  search  of  sassafras,  then  esteemed  in  pharmacy  a  sover- 
eign panacea.  The  city  of  Portsmouth,  therefore,  just- 
ly boasts  of  her  antiquity  of  350  years,  and  of  being 
the  first  soil  in  New  Hampshire  that  was  touched  by 
the  feet  of  Englishmen.  In  1614  the  celebrated  John 
Smith,  saved  from  death  by  the  Indian  girl  Pocahontas, 
examined  and  extolled  the  deep  waters  of  the  Piscataqua. 
In  1623  the  Company  of  Laconia,  in  England,  consisting 


S5&  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT    IS. 

of  Gorges  and  Mason,  and  many  eminent,  noble,  and  ta- 
terprising  merchants  of  London  and  other  cities,  selected 
some  choice  persons,  and  sent  them  to  establish  a  plantation 
on  this  river.  They  came  here  for  trade  and  commerce, 
were  high-minded  men,  and  had  enlarged  views  of  gov- 
ernment, religion,  and  religious  toleration.  They  were  not 
of  the  Puritan  party,  for  Gorges  and  Mason  had  not  the 
same  religious  views  with  the  Massachusetts  planters. 
John  Mason,  the  London  merchant,  member  of  the  Plym- 
outh Company  for  the  planting,  ruling,  and  governing  of 
New  England,  and  first  governor  of  this  province,  ad- 
vanced a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  welfare  of  this  place, 
and  may  be  said  to  have  laid  the  foundation  of  its  commer- 
cial prosperity.  David  Tomson,  a  Scotchman,  who  seems 
to  have  been  prominent  among  the  planters,  who  first  set- 
tled in  this  town,  built  a  house  at  Odiorne's  Point,  a  few 
rods  north  of  the  evident  remains  of  an  ancient  fort.  It 
was  built  the  very  year  of  his  arrival  here,  was  the  first 
house  erected  on  this  plantation,  and  was  afterwards  called 
Mason  Hall.  It  was  not  until  almost  eight  years  after- 
wards that  Humphrey  Chadbourne  built  the  Great  House, 
which  was  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river  at  the  corner 
of  Court  and  AVater  Streets.  It  was  afterwards  occupied 
by  Warnerton  and  Richard  Cutts.  The  review  of  their 
ancestry,  the  contemplation  of  their  enlightened  character, 
noble  enterprise,  and  Uberal  views  cannot  fail  to  awaken 
in  the  sons  of  Portsmouth  a  laudable  and  elevating  pride." 
On  the  28th  of  May,  1653,  this  plantation,  "  which  was 
accidentally  called  Strawberry  Bank,  by  reason  of  a  bank 
where  strawberries  were  found,"  was  allowed  by  the  General 
Court  at  Boston,  on  the  petition  of  Brian  Pendleton  and 
others,  to  be  called  Portsmouth,  "  as  being  a  name  most 
suitable  for  this  place,  it  being  the  river's  mouth,  and  as 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  357 

good  as  any  in  the  land."  It  was  also  the  name  of  the 
English  city  in  which  John  Mason  was  bom.  The  number 
of  families  was  then  between  50  and  60.  •'  The  line  of 
the  township  was  ordered  to  reach  from  the  sea  by  Hamp- 
ton line  to  Wynnacot  River."  0ur  planters  were  so  indus- 
trious and  successful  as  to  be  able  to  send  corn  to  the  early 
sufferers  at  Plymouth. 

The  first  edifice  erected  here  for  public  worship  was  an 
Episcopal  church.  It  was  built,  at  least  as  early  as  1639, 
on  what  is  now  called  Church  Street,  and  formerly  Church 
Lane,  northerly  of  the  Court  House.  A  parsonage  house, 
erected  at  the  same  time,  was  situated  in  Pleasant  Street,  a 
few  rods  north  of  the  Universalist  meeting  house.  The 
parishioners  made  choice  of  Richard  Gibson,  an  Episcopa- 
lian clergyman,  as  their  pastor,  being  the  first  minister  that 
was  settled  in  this  town,  and  the  worship  was  according  to 
the  ritual  of  the  English  church.  In  the  year  1634,  Fran- 
cis Williams  was  appointed  governor  of  the  plantation. 
He  was  a  discreet  and  sensible  man,  accomplished  in  his 
manners,  and  acceptable  to  the  people.  He  collected  about 
him  many  valuable  men,  whose  example  and  influence  were 
of  the  best  order.  These  circumstances  gave  a  high  char- 
acter to  the  town.  Its  reputation  was  so  great  that  it  was 
always  selected,  in  the  days  of  the  colonial  government,  as 
a  most  desirable  place  of  residence,  and  for  many  years  it 
was  the  home  of  the  royal  governors  and  the  king's  coun- 
cil. "  It  has  been  distinguished  for  men  of  patriotism. 
Here  lived  William  Vaughn,  who  claimed  to  be  the  pro- 
jector of  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  under  Pepperell ;  Dr. 
Cutter,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  that  expedition  ;  Colonel 
Meserve,  who  Avas  one  of  its  mightiest  spirits  ;  Major  Hale, 
who  was  an  officer  in  one  of  the  regiments  ;  and  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Langdon  who  was  the  chaplain  of  the  New  Hamp- 


1 


36t8  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

shire  forces.  General  Whipple,  who  resided  here  for  the 
largest  portion  of  his  life,  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Governor  Langdon  was  al- 
ways a  devoted  friend  to  his  country  ;  went  to  Bennington 
as  a  volunteer  in  the  armyv  after  the  capture  of  Cornwallis, 
and  was  at  Khode  Island  with  a  detachment  while  the 
British  troops  were  there  stationed.  He,  Avith  General 
Sullivan,  seized,  at  the  fort  in  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  100 
barrels  of  gunpowder,  and  so  promptly  conveyed  them  to 
Bunker  Hill  that  they  were  of  valuable  service  on  the 
memorable  17th  of  June.  He  had  the  honor  of  presiding 
in  the  Senate  when  General  Washington  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  He  and  John  Pickering  and 
Pierce  Long  were  delegates  to  the  convention  for  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  most  thoroughly 
supported  it,  long  commanded  a  regiment  in  the  revo- 
tionary  war,  and  was  a  member  of  the  old  Congress." 

Portsmouth  has  enjoyed  largely  the  citizenship  of  litera- 
ary  men,  statesmen,  scholars,  and  jurists.  She  points  to  a 
Buckminster,  a  Haven,  a  Sewall,  a  Penhallow,  a  Langdon, 
a  Cutts,  a  Mason,  a  Bartlett,  a  Webster,  —  who  here  devel- 
oped and  published  his  colossal  powers  to  the  world,  —  a 
Brown,  Alden,  Pickering,  Sherburne,  Woodbury,  and 
Wentworths,  and  a  host  of  others,  who  live  in  history,  and 
whose  memories  are  cherished  by  the  gratitude  and  admira- 
tion of  their  posterity.  Among  the  living  she  points  with 
pride  to  the  once  penniless  orphan,  but  now  eminent  schol- 
lar  and  sweetest  of  poets,  James  T.  Fields.  Its  schools  have 
always  been  of  a  high  order,  and  at  present  are  not  sur- 
passed by  those  of  any  other  city. 

The  Athcna^'um,  instituted  about  37  years  ago,  contains 
8000  volumes  of  choice,  valuable,  and  expensive  books. 

Portsmouth  has  long  been  celebrated  for  the  skill  of  its 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  S^9 

naval  architects,  as  well  as  for  its  abundance  of  fine  white 
oak  timber  and  other  materials  for  ship  building.  The 
merchant  service,  as  well  as  the  United  States  navy,  is 
supplied  from  the  ship  yards  here  with  many  of  the  finest 
first-class  vessels.  It  has  always  been  noted  for  its  enter- 
prise and  commercial  spirit,  and  is  the  immediate  centre 
of  an  extensive  trade,  which,  by  reason  of  its  increased  fa- 
cilities by  railroad  communication,  is  rapidly  enlarging. 
Market  Square  is  situated  in  the  central  pa^t  of  the  city, 
and  is  the  principal  seat  of  the  country  trade. 

Portsmouth  is  remarkable  for  its  noble,  safe,  and  ca- 
pacious harbor.  It  contains  forty  feet  of  water,  at  low  tide, 
in  the  channel,  and  is  protected  by  islands  and  headlands 
from  storms.  The  river  opposite  the  city  is  three  fourths 
of  a  mile  wide  ;  its  current  is  more  than  five  miles  per 
hour  ;  its  depth,  at  low  water,  seventy  feet.  The  tide 
rises  here  ten  feet,  and  is  so  rapid  as  to  keep  the  harbor 
free  from  ice,  as  well  as  the  river  for  several  miles  above 
the  town.  Its  great  breadth  and  its  delightful  banks,  in 
connection  with  all  its  other  advantages,  render  it  one  of 
the  most  important  and  interesting  naval  stations  in  the 
country.  The  city  is  remarkable  for  the  beautiful  scenery 
with  which  it  is  surrounded.  On  every  elevation  is  pre- 
sented a  magnificent  landscape.  The  rides  are  charming, 
always  presenting  objects  of  interest  and  delight.  The 
climate  is  salubrious.  Great  crimes  are  rarely  committed, 
and  no  execution  has  taken  place  since  the  year  1768.  In- 
telligence, sound  morality,  and  excellent  manners  pervade 
the  community.  There  is  also  an  agreeable  harmony 
among  the  various  religious  denominations.  The  fields  are 
generally  well  cultivated,  and  much  attention  is  paid  to 
the  study  of  agriculture.  Portsmouth  has  sufiered  much 
from  fires.  In  December,  1802,  102  buildings  were 
burned ;    in    December,   1806,    14,  including    St.   John's 


360  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Church;  and  in  December,  1813,  15  acres  of  the  to-vwi 
were  burned  over,  destroying  397  buildings.  Among 
the  public  buildings  in  Portsmouth  are  seven  hand- 
some churches,  two  market  houses,  an  Academy,  the 
Athenaeum,  and  an  Almshouse.  The  Custom  House 
is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Penhallow  and  Daniel 
Streets.  There  are  four  lighthouses  attached  to  this 
district  —  viz.,  New  Castle,  White's  Back,  White  Island, 
and  Boon  Island.  Fort  Constitution  is  situated  on  the 
north-west  point  of  Great  Island,  and  nearly  opposite 
is  Fort  McClay,  in  Kittery,  Maine.  It  is  connected  with 
this  latter  place  by  a  bridge,  and  also  with  the  Island  of 
New  Castle. 

The  Navy  Yard  is  situated  on  Navy  Island,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  within  the  limits  of  Maine,  and  has  every 
convenience  and  facility  for  the  construction  of  vessels  of 
the  largest  class.  It  is  about  three  fouiths  of  a  mile  south- 
easterly from  the  city.  The  territory  embraced  within  its 
limits  is  about  65  acres,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  en- 
closed with  permanent  quay  walls  of  dimension-split  gran- 
ite. At  the  wharves  abundant  depth  of  water  is  afforded 
for  government  ships  of  the  largest  class.  The  great  ra- 
pidity of  the  tides  has  worn  the  channel  very  deep,  so 
that  the  formation  of  bars  is  improbable,  if  not  impossible. 
On  the  yard  arc  three  ship  houses,  one  of  which  is  300 
feet  long,  131  wide,  and  72  high  from  floor  to  ridge;  six 
timber  sheds,  200  by  60  feet  each,  built  of  stone  ;  mast 
house  and  rigging  loft,  also  of  stone,  250  feet  long  by  70 
wide ;  a  machine  shop  smithery,  in  which  is  a  steam  en- 
gine ;  an  engine  house  for  woodwork,  in  which  are  a  saw- 
mill, planing  machines,  circular  saws,  &c.,  of  the  most 
approved  descriptions.  In  this  building  is  a  double  steam 
engine  of  50  horse  power,  of  excellent  workmanship  and 
the  best  material,  finished,  fitted,  and  set  up  by  workmen 


GAZETTEER    OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  361 

in  the  government  shop.  Convenient  and  desirable  quar- 
ters are  provided  for  the  commander,  lieutenant,  purser, 
surveyor,  and  sailing  master,  and  also  quarters  for  boat- 
swain, gunner,  sailmaker,  carpenter,  and  ordinary  seamen. 
A  corps  of  marines,  with  their  officers,  is  stationed  here, 
for  whom  barracks  are  provided.  The  magazine  is  a  fine 
stone  structure,  well  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  erected.  The  floating  balance  diy  dock  is  an  in- 
genious and  costly  piece  of  work.  A  basin  for  moving 
the  dock  is  constructed  of  stone  with  hammered  face,  of  rec- 
tangular form,  300  feet  in  length,  125  in  width,  the  walls 
six  feet  thick  at  the  base,  abating  to  three  feet,  and  14 
in  height.  The  floor,  as  well  as  the  walls,  rests  on  3000 
piles,  driven  with  a  ram  weighing  3500  pounds,  25  feet 
run.  These  piles  are  three  feet  from  centre  to  centre, 
capped  with  timber,  "and  covered  with  six-inch  plank. 
Five  courses  of  stone  are  laid  lengthwise  of  the  basin,  and 
the  spaces  between  them  concreted  six  inches  in  depth. 
The  dock  is  350  feet  long,  115  in  width,  and  the  side 
walls  38  feet  in  height.  These  walls  are  seven  feet  in 
thickness,  in  which  are  partitions  forming  chambers  on 
both  sides  the  entire  length  of  the  dock.  On  these  walls 
and  amidships  of  the  dock  on  fcach  side  are  steam  engines 
of  ten  horse  power  for  operating  twelve  pumps  each. 
When  a  ship  is  to  be  received,  the  dock  is  floated  from  the 
basin  into  deep  water,  one  of  the  end  gates  removed,  the 
sinking  gates  opened,  and  the  dock  allowed  to  sink,  if 
necessary,  32  feet,  by  adding  to  the  specific  gravity  of  the 
dock  by  filling  the  chambers  with  Avatcr,  for  which  purpose 
the  pumps  are  put  in  operation.  The  ship  is  then  taken  into 
the  dock,  received  on  the  cradle,  centred,  and  shored.  The 
process  of  raising  is  now  commenced.  The  end  gate  is 
replaced,  the  discharging  gates  opened,  and  the  pumps 
31 


362  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

again  put  in  operation,  and  as  the  water  is  discharged  the 
dock  rises.  When  the  water  is  removed  from  the  cham- 
bers, the  end  gate  opposite  the  one  before  spoken  of  is  re- 
moved, and  the  dock  returned  to  the  basin  and  moored. 
During  this  operation  some  fifty  gates  are  used  in  sinking, 
raising,  and  balancing  the  dock.  The  pumps  by  which  the 
water  is  raised  are  24:  in  number,  three  feet  stroke,  and  the 
boxes  20  inches  square.  These  pumps  are  capable  of  dis- 
charging 1,200,000  gallons  of  water  per  hour.  At  the 
head  of  the  dock  basin  is  a  railway,  on  an  inclination  of  one 
inch  in  ten  feet,  on  which  the  ships  may  be  draAvn  by  an 
hydraulic  machine,  operated  by  steam.  The  ship,  after 
being  drawn  upon  this  railway,  is  securely  shored  on  a 
stone  foundation  laid  for  the  purpose.  After  the  ship  has 
been  duly  repaired,  she  may  be  put  afloat ;  and  the  same 
means  are  used  as  in  raising,  the  order  of  operation  being 
simply  reversed.  The  cost  of  the  dock  and  appendages  has 
been  about  $800,000. 

The  facilities  for  ship  building  in  this  yard  are  not  ex- 
celled by  any  other.  The  buildings,  (some  of  the  most 
important  having  been  above  mentioned,)  together  with 
the  location,  depth  of  water,  and  accessibility  at  all  times 
of  the  year,  —  the  terms  On  which  competent  mechanics 
can  be  obtained,  (whose  skill  is  proverbial  in  naval  archi- 
tecture,) —  render  this  station  entitled  to  more  consider- 
ation than  it  has  heretofore  received.  The  sloop  of  war 
Portsmouth,  the  steamer  Saranac,  and  the  frigate  Con- 
gi'css,  built  here,  do  credit  to  the  station,  to  the  builders, 
and  to  the  government.  At  the  present  time,  however, 
more  than  400  mechanics  are  employed  in  preparing  the 
frigate  Santee  for  launching,  and  reconstructing  the  ship 
of  the  line  Franklin,  which  will  be  a  screw  propeller,  and 
when  completed  will  be  the  largest  war  steamer  in  the 
world. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


363 


Table  of  Vessels  built  in  the  District  of  Portsmouth  since  1800. 


Year. 

Veisela. 

Sbipa. 
5 

Barks. 

Brig.. 
12 

Schn. 

Sloops. 

Tom. 

1800 

18 

1 

3403 

1801 

14 

9 

I 

4 

2925 

1802 

11 

5 

3 

2 

1 

2045 

1803 

14 

9 

3 

2 

2796 

1804 

18 

10 

1 

7 

3288 

18^5 

16 

11 

5 

3258 

1806 

13 

8 

3 

2 

2702 

1807 

10 

4 

2 

4 

1608 

1808 

11 

5 

6 

1666 

1809 

9 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1514 

1810  . 

1811  • 

10 

8 

1 

1 

2800 

15 

10 

5 

4375 

1812 

4 

1 

1 

2 

626 

1813 

1 

1 

21 

1814 

11 

1 

3 

7 

1315 

181.5 

13 

2 

3 

8 

2057 

1816 

14 

2 

2 

9 

1 

1612 

1817 

7 

2 

5 

594 

1818 

20 

3 

6 

10 

1 

2733 

1819 

13 

3 

1 

9 

. 

1626 

1820 

9 

3 

2 

3 

1 

1450 

1821 

7 

3 

2 

2 

1379 

1822 

9 

4 

1 

4 

1656 

1823 

10 

4 

4 

2 

2429 

1824 

12 

5 

3 

4 

2650 

182.5 

15 

5 

3 

7 

2874 

1826 

6 

.4 

1 

1 

1977 

1827 

11 

4 

2 

1 

4 

2402 

1828 

10 

5 

1 

4 

2113 

1829 

10 

1 

9 

916 

18.30 

7 

2 

5 

1308 

1831 

3 

2 

1 

993 

1832 

7 

3 

2 

2 

1798 

1833 

8 

5 

1 

2 

2630 

1834 

8 

4 

1 

3 

2348 

183.5 

9 

4 

2 

1 

2 

2813 

1836 

8 

6 

1 

1 

3853 

1837 

5 

5 

2982 

1838 

9 

5 

3 

1 

29.59 

1839 

6 

4 

1 

2603 

1840 

8 

4 

1 

3 

3243 

1841 

5 

4 

1 

2667 

1842 

1 

1 

526 

1843 

8 

1 

2 

841 

1844 

5 

3 

1 

1 

2280 

184.5 

7 

3 

1 

2 

1 

2720 

1846 

9 

4 

1 

1 

3 

4113 

1847 

12 

7 

3 

2 

6822 

1848 

9 

4 

2 

3 

4277 

1849 

10 

5 

2 

3 

6010 

18.50 

7 

5 

2 

6857 

1851 

13 

8 

1 

4 

9977 

1852 

12 

11 

1 

10271 

18.53 

11 

9 

2 

10708 

1854 

12 
534 

10 
256 

2 
86 

12797 

20 

165 

7 

170.207 

364  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Number  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  district  of  Ports- 
mouth on  the  1st  day  of  October,  1850,  92  —  ships, 
17  ;  bark,  1  ;  brigs,  3  ;  schooners,  70  ;  sloop,  1.  Ton- 
nage, 16,-448.  In  addition  to  this  list,  there  are  several 
small  vessels,  from  5  to  20  tons,  used  for  fishing,  &c.,  and 
a  number  of  packets  which  ply  between  Portsmouth  and 
places  at  the  head  of  the  river  —  such  as  Dover,  Berwick, 
Exeter,  &c. 

Banks.  —  Eockingham  Bank  —  incorporated  ra  Novem- 
ber, 1813  ;  rechartered  December  17,  1852.  Capital^ 
$160,000. 

Mechanics  and  Traders'  Bank  —  incorporated  in  Decem- 
ber, 1844.     Capital,  $120,000. 

Piscataqua  Exchange  Bank  —  incorporated  in  1844. 
Capital,  $200,000. 

Portsmouth  Savings  Bank  —  incorporated  in.  1823. 
Amount  of  deposits,  $422,676.55.  This  institution  is  es- 
tablished for  the  benefit  of  all  classes  of  individuals.  De- 
posits are  received  in  sums  from  $3  upwards,  $300  being 
the  largest  sum  that  can  draw  interest. 

Insurance  Companies.  —  Portsmouth  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company  —  incorporated  June  20,  1839.  Icha- 
bod  Rollins  president ;  John  Salter  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. 

Railroads.  —  Eastern  Railroad  in  New  Hampshire  — 
incorporated  in  June,  1836.     Capital,  $500,000. 

Eastern  Railroad  —  incorporated  in  Massachusetts.  Cap- 
ital, $3,850,000. 

Portland,  Saco,  and  Portsmouth  Railroad  —  incorporated 
in  Maine,  1841.     Capital,  $1,500,000. 

Portsmouth  and  Concord  Railroad  —  incorporated  in 
July,  1845.     Capital,  $800,000. 

Factories.  —  Portsmouth      Steam      Factory  —  William 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  365 

Stearns  agent.  Capital,  |530,000.  Erected  in  1846.  The 
present  building  is  204  feet  long  by  TO  in  width,  and  6 
stories  high,  with  two  L's,  each  100  feet  by  30,  and  2 
stories  high.  It  runs  27,000  spindles,  450  looms,  and 
manufactures  lawns  from  yarns  number  70  and  90.  The 
machinery  is  driven  by  a  high  pressure  steam  engine  of 
200  horse  power.  2,900,000  yards  of  lawn  are  manufac- 
tured annually.  1500  tons  of  anthracite  coal  and  395,000 
pounds  of  cotton  are  consumed  annually.  Number  of 
hands  employed  —  males,  150  ;  females,  230  ;  total,  380. 

Bridges.  —  Portsmouth  Bridge  —  incorporated  in  June, 
1819.     Capital,  |64,000. 

Piscataqua  Bridge  —  built  in  1794  ;  original  cost, 
$65,000. 

New  Castle  Bridge  —  incorporated  in  1821. 

Maine  Railway — incorporated  in  July,  1833.  Capital, 
$100,000. 

Portsmouth  Pier  Company  —  incorporated  in  1795. 

Hotels.  —  Rockingham  House,  97  State  Street,  by  S. 
A.  Coburn.  Franklin  House,  43  Congress  Street,  Wil- 
lis Barnabee.  Piscataqua  House,  9  Pleasant  Street,  Josiah 
G.  Hadley.  Market  Street  House,  114  Market  Street, 
Charles  W.  Walker. 

Fire  Department.  —  The  Fire  Depaitment  of  Ports- 
mouth have  under  their  charge  six  engines,  five  of  them 
(Suction,  with  apparatus  complete,  and  about  2000  feet  of 
hose. 

Portsmouth  Aqueduct  Company  —  incorported  in  1798. 
By  means  of  this  aqueduct  the  town  is  supplied  with  wa- 
ter from  a  spring  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Market 
Square,  which  is  conducted  through  wooden  logs  into  most 
of  the  streets,  and  into  dwelling  houses. 

Newspapers.  —  New  Hampshire  Gazette,  Daily  and 
31* 


366  NFAV    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Weekly  Chronicle,  Portsmouth  Journal  of  Literature  and 
Politics,  the  Pockingham  Messenger,  and  the  American 
Ballot. 

Religious  Societies.  —  St.  John's  Church,  Episcopal ;  or- 
ganized about  1638  ;  rector,  Rev.  Charles  Borroughs,  D.  D. 

The  North  Church  —  Congregational ;  organized  in 
1671 ;  pastor,  Eev.  Pufus  W.  Clark. 

The  South  Congregational  Church  and  Parish  —  organ- 
ized in  1713  ;  pastor.  Rev.  Andrew  B.  Peabody. 

Universalist  Society  —  founded,  in  1774,  by  Rev.  John 
Murray  ;  pastor,  Rev.  S.  S.  Fletcher. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Society  —  incorporated  in  1808; 
pastor,  S.  Kelley. 

Pleasant  Street  Christian  Society  —  organized  October 
12,  1802,  under  the  name  of  "  The  First  Baptist  Society  in 
Portsmouth."  In  1840  the  corporate  name  was  changed 
to  "  The  Pleasant  Street  Christian  Society." 

Middle  Street  Baptist  Church  —  incorporated  July  3, 
1827  ;  pastor,  William  Lamson. 

Hanover  Street  Chapel  —  Elder  D.  I.  Robinson,  a  Second 
Advent  preacher.      No  regular  society  has  yet  been  formed. 

Cemeteries.  —  The  Auburn  Street  Cemetery,  or  "Pro- 
prietors' Burying  Ground,"  is  situated  on  two  gentle  swells 
of  land  at  the  foot  of  Auburn  Street.  It  covers  about  13 
acres.  In  the  centre  is  a  beautiful  artificial  pond,  sur- 
rounded by  an  extensive  lawn,  ornamented  with  trees  and 
shrubbery.  The  remainder  of  the  ground  is  laid  out  in 
lots  of  various  dimensions,  divided  by  gravel  walks,  and 
the  whole  surrounded  by  a  substantial  stone  fence,  along 
which  are  rows  of  elm  and  maple  trees.  A  large  portion 
of  the  lots  which  have  been  taken  up  is  enclosed  by 
handsome  and  durable  iron  fences,  and  contains  tasteful  and 
elegant  monuments.  H 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  367 

Harmony  Grove  Cemetery  is  in  the  rear  of,  and  an  addi- 
tion to.  Auburn  Street  Cemetery. 

The  city  of  Portsmouth  was  incorporated  July  6,  1849. 
It  is  54  miles  north-east  from  Boston,  the  same  distance 
south-west  from  Portland,  45  miles  east-south-east  from 
Concord,  and  489  miles  from  the  city  of  Washington. 
It  is  situated  in  latitude  43''  h'  north,  and  longitude 
70°  41'  west  from  Greenwich,  or  6°  23'  east  from  Wash- 
ington. The  population  in  1790  was  4720 ;  in  1800, 
5339;  in  1810,  6934;  in  1820,  7327;  in  1830,  8032; 
in  1840,  7887 ;  in  1850,  9700.  The  wealth  of  the  city 
is  very  considerable,  and  its  present  condition  decidedly 
prosperous.  The  cleanliness  of  the  streets,  the  neatness 
of  the  houses,  the  number  of  trees  which  ornament  the 
streets,  and  the  many  fine  gardens  scattered  throughout 
the  town,  give  the  place  a  pleasant  and  inviting  appearance, 
while  its  quietness  and  proximity  to  the  sea  and  neighbor- 
ing beaches  render  it  a  delightful  summer  resort.  From 
1623  until  1641,  Portsmouth,  including  Kittery,  Dover, 
and  Exeter,  was  an  independent  republic.  It  then,  with 
Exeter,  placed  itself  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachu- 
setts. This  connection  continued  until  1679,  when  New 
Hampshire  was  formed  into  a  separate  province.  It  was 
incorporated,  with  its  present  limits.  May  28,  1643.  Area, 
9702  acres. 

Randolph,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Berlin,  east 
by  Gorham,  south  by  White  Mountains,  and  west  by  Kil- 
kenny. This  is  a  cold  and  rugged  township,  situated  at 
the  northern  base  of  the  White  Mountains.  Area,  about 
26,680  acres.  In  some  parts  the  soil  is  good  ;  but  its  pop- 
ulation has  increased  very  gradually.  Branches  of  Moose 
and  Israel's  Kivers  are  the  only  streams  of  importance, 
though  there  are  numerous  brooks  well   stored  with  trout. 


4 


368  p  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

The  sources  of  these  two  rivers  are  so  near  that  a  person  of 
ordinary  size  may  lie  with  his  feet  on  the  brink  of  one  and 
drink  out  of  the  other.  Moose  River  runs  in  an  easterly 
direction,  and  Israel's  in  a  westerly. 

This  town  was  granted,  August  20,  1772,  to  John  Du- 
rand,  and  others  from  London,  under  the  name  of  Durand. 
It  received  its  jjresent  name  in  1824.  Distance  from 
Concord,  120  miles,  north  ;  from  Lancaster,  20,  south- 
east. 

Population,  11-3.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  26. 
Do.  common  schools,  3.  Hotel,  1.  Inventory-,  ^31,670. 
Value  of  lands,  .f  23, 224.  Number  of  sheep,  114.  Do. 
neat  stock,  95.     Do.   horses,  17. 

E-AYMOiSfD,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Deerfield  and  Nottingham,  east  by  Epping  and  Freemont, 
south  by  Sandown  and  Chester,  and  west  by  Chester  and 
Candia.  Area,  16,317  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
28  miles,  south-east ;  from  Portsmouth  25,  south-west,  by 
the  Portsmouth  and  Concord  Railroad.  The  principal 
streams  are  two  branches  of  Lamprey  River,  and  the 
Patuckaway.  The  surface  is  generally  ^ven  ;  the  soil  is 
various.  The  meadows  are  productive,  and  under  high 
cultivation.  In  the  north  part  of  the  town,  near  the  sum- 
mit of  a  hill  about  100  feet  in  height,  is  a  cave,  or  fissure, 
in  a  ledge,  which,  from  the  appearance  of  its  mouth,  is 
called  the  Oven.  It  is  a  regular  arch,  about  five  feet  in 
height  and  the  same  in  width,  and  extends  into  the  hill 
about  fifteen  feet. 

Raymond  was  originally  that  part  of  Chester  called 
Charming  Fare.  In  1762  it  was  made  a  distinct  parish ; 
it  was  incorporated  May  9,  1765,  by  its  present  name. 

The  names  of  24  of  the  inhabitants  of  Raymond  are 
found  enrolled  among  the  soldiers  of  the  revolution  ;  besides. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  369 

numbers  of  the  militia  were  engaged  for  short  periods. 
Four  were  killed  or  died  in  the  service. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  about  1800. 
There  is  also  a  Methodist  and  a  Freewill  Baptist  society. 
There  are  ten  common  schools,  three  stores,  one  hotel,  and 
one  shoe  manufactory. 

Population,  1256.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
aOO.  Inventory,  $269,958.  Value  of  lands,  $178,928. 
Stock  in  trade,  $1350.  Number  of  sheep,  670.  Do. 
neat  stock,  931.     Do.  horses,  139. 

Richmond,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Swan- 
zey,  east  by  Troy  and  Fitzwilliam,  south  by  Warwick 
and  Royalstou,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Winches- 
ter. Area,  23,725  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  70 
miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene,  12,  south.  It  is  w^atered 
by  branches  of  Ashuelot  and  Miller's  Rivers,  which  fall 
into  the  Connecticut.  The  surface  is  generally  level ;  the 
soil  is  favorable  for  the  grains  and  grasses.  Soapstone  of 
a  good  quality  is  found  here  in  considerable  quantities.  In 
the  quarry  from  which  the  soapstone  is  taken  are  found 
quartz,  felspar,  phosphate  of  lime,  pinite,  rutile,  iron  py- 
rites, garnets,  calcareous  spar,  and  hornblende  crystals.  In 
the  hornblende  rock  occur  very  perfect  crystals  of  black 
tourmaline.  lolite  of  great  beauty  is  found  in  the  quartz, 
rhis  is  a  rare  mineral,  and  is  highly  valued. 

Richmond  contains  three  meeting  houses,  three  stores, 
one  hotel,  twelve  sawmills,  two  gristmills,  four  pail  manu- 
factories, one  wooden  ware  manufactory,  and  in  the  village 
at  the  "  Four  Corners  ■ '  is  a  large  steam  mill,  or  shop, 
which  is  used  for  various  purposes. 

This  town  was  granted,  February  28,  1752,  to  Joseph 
Blanchard  and  others.     The  first  Baptist  church  was' formed 


I 


870  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

in  1768  ;  the  second  in  1776.     There  are  also  societies  of 
Quakers,  .Universalists,  and  Unitarians. 

Population,  1128.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  $308,662.  Value  of  lands,  $185,376. 
Do.  mills,  $7750.  Stock  in  trade,  $5716.  Money  at 
interest,  $13,589.  Number  of  sheep,  403.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1048.     Do.  horses,  190. 

RiNDGE,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  JafFrey 
and  Sharon,  east  by  New  Ipswich,  south  by  Winchendon, 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Fitzwilliam.  Area,  23,838 
acres  Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-west ;  from 
Keene,  20,  south-east.  The  surface  is  very  rocky,  but  the 
soil  is  in  most  parts  deep  and  rich.  There  are  13  ponds, 
the  largest  of  which  are  called  Manomonack,  Emerson, 
Perley,  Long,  Grassy,  and  Bullet.  The  three  first  discharge 
their  waters  by  Miller's  River  ;  the  three  last  are  drained 
into  the  Contoocook  River.  These  ponds  abound  with  fish, 
and  are  a  fixvorite  resort  of  anglers.  There  is  a  small  ridge 
of  land  here,  from  which  the  waters  issuing  from  one  side 
flow  into  the  Merrimack,  and  those  on  the  other  side  into 
the  Connecticut.  Rindge  was  originally  granted  by  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  was  called  Rowley,  Canada,  or  Monadnock 
Number  One.  It  received  its  present  name  from  one  of  its 
proprietors  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  August  11, 
1768.  It  was  settled,  in  1752,  by  Jonathan  Stanley, 
George  Hewitt,  and  Abel  Platts.  Rev.  Seth  Dean  was 
ordained  over  the  Congregational  church  in  1765. 

Population,  1274.  Number  of  polls,  300.  Inventory, 
$515,413.  Value  of  lands,  $322,542.  Stock  in  trade, 
$15,124.  Money  at  interest,  $49,050.  Number  of  sheep, 
415.     Do.  neat  stock,  1164.     Do.  horses,  194. 


t  ■ 

GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  371 

Rochester,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
Berwick,  Maine,  south-east  by  Somersworth  and  Dover, 
south-west  by  Barrington,  and  north-west  by  Farmington. 
Area,  22,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles, 
east ;  from  Dover,  10,  north,  by  the  Cocheco  Raihoad, 
which  connects  it  with  the  Portsmouth  and  Concord  and 
the  Great  Falls  Railroads.  Besides  Salmon  Fall  River, 
which  separates  this  town  from  Berwick  and  Lebanon,  in 
Maine,  the  Cocheco  River  runs  nearly  the  whole  length  of 
the  town  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  while  the  Isinglass 
River  crosses  its  southerly  corner  just  before  its  conflu- 
ence with  the  Cocheco.  Both  Salmon  Fall  and  Cocheco 
Rivers  aftbrd  several  valuable  water  privileges ;  on  the 
latter  is  situated  the  principal  village.  The  soil  is  gener- 
ally excellent.  There  arc  many  fine  and  well-cultivated 
farms.  The  surface  is  uneven,  rising  in  numerous  swells, 
the  principal  of  which  is  Squamanagonnick  Hill.  Upon  it 
are  several  valuable  farms. 

Considerable  attention  is  paid  to  manufactures  and  the 
mechanic  arts.  In  the  village  called  Gonic  is  a  large  wool- 
len factory,  owned  by  N.  V.  AVhitehouse  &  Co.  The  cap- 
ital stock  is  $75,000.  Kind  of  goods  manufactured,  flan- 
nels, printers'  blankets,  and  printers'  lapping.  Number 
of  spindles,  1760.  Do.  looms,  25.  Do.  yards  manufac- 
tured per  annum,  264,400  yards  flannels,  and  7884  yards 
printers'  blankets.  Do.  pounds  mooI  consumed  per  an- 
num, 110,000.     Do.  operatives,  50. 

The  capital  of  the  Rochester  Bank,  in  this  town,  is 
$120,000. 

James  Bean,  manufacturer  of  woollen  yarn  —  consumes 
about  1200  pounds  wool  per  month.     Number  of  hands,  6. 

This  place  makes  healthy  progress  in  wealth  and  popu- 
lation, which  is  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  its  valuable 


3?r8  ^    ivNEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

water  power.  Rochester  was  granted  by  Massachusetts  to 
several  proprietors,  in  127  shares.  Its  area  then  consisted 
of  60,000  acres.  Since  that  time  38,000  acres  have  been 
taken  to  form  other  towns.  It  was  incorporated  May  10, 
1T22.  Captain  Timothy  Roberts  moved  into  this  town 
with  his  family  December  28,  1728,  and  was  the  first  per- 
manent settler.  He  was  soon  followed  by  Eleazar  Ham, 
Benjamin  Frost,  Joseph  Richards,  Benjamin  Tibbets,  and 
others.  Until  Canada  was  taken,  in  1760,  by  the  British 
and  American  forces,  it  remained  a  frontier  town  ;  the 
people  were  poor,  and  often  distressed,  but  not  discouraged. 
When  war  broke  out  with  the  Indians  they  were  obliged 
to  move  their  families  into  garrisons,  and  to  watch  night 
and  day ;  nor  could  they  cultivate  their  little  patches  of 
cleared  land  but  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives,  protecting 
themselves  with  such  numbers  as  they  could  muster  from 
their  feeble  settlement.  The  men  were  bold,  hardy,  and 
industrious,  and  their  sons  were  early  trained  to  the  use  of 
arms.  They  soon  became  a  terror  to  the  Indians,  and  did 
not  suffer  so  much  from  depredations  as  many  other  towns 
whose  situations  were  far  less  exposed.  In  June,  1746,  Jo- 
seph Heard,  Joseph  Richards,  John  Wentworth,  and  Ger- 
shora  Downs  were  killed,  and  John  Richards  wounded, 
captui'cd,  and  carried  to  Canada,  whence  he  soon  returned. 
Jonathan  Door,  a  boy,  was  also  carried  captive  to  Canada. 
In  May,  1748,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Hodgdon  was  killed 
on  a  Sunday  morning  by  the  Indians,  because  she  refused 
to  accompany  them  to  Canada.  A  few  years  after  the  set- 
tlement of  the  town  a  Congregational  church  was  gathered. 
There  are  also  societies  of  Methodists  and  Freewill  Bap- 
tists. Many  of  the  inhabitants  took  an  active  part  in  the 
revolutionary  war.  The  names  of  Captains  John  Brewster 
toad  David    Place,   Colonel  John   McDuflfee,  Hon.   John 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  37t 

Plummer,  James  Knowles,  Dr.  James  How,  and  John 
P.  Hale,  Esq.,  •will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  people  of 
Rochester. 

Population,  3006..  Number  of  polls,  664.  Inventory, 
$934,860.  Value  of  lands,  |502,902.  Stock  iu  trade, 
139,860.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $26,550.  Money 
at  interest,  $56,002.  Shares  in  banks,  |93,700.  Num- 
ber of  sheep,  1264.  Do.  neat  stock,  1810.  Do.  horses, 
305. 

RoLLiNSFORD,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Somersworth,  east  by  South  Berwick,  Maine,  and  south  and 
west  by  Dover.  Distance  from  Concord,  45  miles,  south- 
east ;  from  Dover,  one  mile,  by  Great  Falls  Railroad,  which 
connects  it  with  the  Portsmouth  and  Concord  and  the  Co- 
checo  Railroads.  This  is  a  very  small  township,  taken  from 
Somersworth,  and  incorporated  July  3, 1849.  Salmon  Fall 
River  washes  its  western  boundary,  and  affords  many  val- 
uable water  privileges.  The  soil  is  excellent,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  various  kinds  of  grain  and  grass.  The 
Great  Falls  Bank,  in  this  town,  has  a  capital  of  $150,000. 
Manufacturing  is  carried  on  quite  extensively. 

Population,  1862.  Number  of  polls,  345.  Inventory, 
$792,459.  Value  of  lands,  $291,956.  Stock  in  trade, 
$51,400.  Value  of  factories,  $260,577.  Money  at  in- 
terest, $30,138.  Number  of  sheep,  113.  Do.  neat  stock, 
430.     Do.  horses,  96. 

RoxBURY,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Sulli- 
van and  Nelson,  east  by  Nelson  and  Dublin,  south  by 
Marlborough,  and  west  by  Keene.  Area,  about  6000 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-'west ;  from 
Keene,  5,  east.  This  is  a  small  but  fertile  township,  the 
32 


$74  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

surface  of  which  is  rough  and  uneven,  rising  into  consider- 
able swells,  and  affording  excellent  pasturage,  besides  the 
various  productions  common  to  the  climate.  The  north 
branch  of  the  Ashuelot,  which  forms  il^e  boundary  between 
this  town  and  Keeue,  is  the  principal  stream.  Roaring 
Brook,  on  which  are  several  valuable  meadows,  waters  the 
south  part,  and  affords  a  few  moderate  water  privileges. 
The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  devoted  to  agriculture,  although 
the  mechanic  arts,  in  the  several  branches,  are  pursued  to 
some  extent.  It  formerly  constituted  a  part  of  Keene, 
Marlborough,  and  Nelson ;  from  which  towns  it  was  dis- 
annexed,  and  incorporated  December  9,  1812.  A  Congre- 
gational church  was  formed  August  15,  1816, 

Population,  260.  Number  of  polls,  58.  Inventory, 
$95,873.  Value  of  lands,  |61,599.  Do.  mills,  |600. 
Money  at  interest,  ^8565.  Number  of  sheep,  1311.  Do. 
neat  stock,  334.     Do.  horses,  58. 

RuMNEY,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Ells- 
worth, east  by  Campton,  south  by  Plymouth,  Hebron, 
and  Groton,  and  west  by  Wentworth.  Area,  22,475  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  51  miles,  north-west;  from  Plym- 
outh, 8,  north-west.  It  is  connected  with  both  these 
towns  by  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad.  It 
is  watered  by  Baker's  River  and  its  tributaries.  Stinson's 
Brook  is  the  outlet  of  a  pond  of  the  same  name.  The 
pond  is  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  is  400  rods  long 
and  200  wide.  The  surface  is  uneven  ;  the  soil  is  gener- 
ally fertile.  There  is  much  excellent  farming  and  timber 
land  here,  the  value  of  which  has  been  greatly  increased 
since  the  construction  of  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad,  which  passes  through  the  southerly  par* 
of  the  town.     The   principal   elevations  are    Rattlesnake 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  375 

"Webber's,  ancl  Stinson's  Mountains.  The  latter  received 
its  name  from  the  fact  that,  on  the  28th  of  April,  1752, 
Daniel  Stinson,  while  on  a  hunting  excursion  with  General 
Stark  and  others,  was  killed  here  by  the  Indians.  From 
this  lamentable  occurrence,  the  brook,  pond,  and  mountain 
will  long  perpetuate  the  name  of  Stinson.  Rumney  waa 
granted  first  to  Samuel  Olmstead ;  afterwards,  on  the  18th 
of  March,  1767,  to  Daniel  Brainard  and  others.  It  was 
first  settled  in  October,  1765,  by  Captain  Jotham  Cum- 
n»ngs,  Moses  Smart,  Daniel  Brainard,  James  Heath,  and 
others.  A  Congregational  church  was  organized  here  Oc- 
tober 21,  1767.  A  Baptist  church  Avas  formed  in  1780. 
At  present  the  Congregational  church  is  destitute  of  a 
pastor. 

Population,  1109.  Number  of  polls,  234.  Inventory, 
$303,562.  Value  of  lands,  |158,292.  Do.  mills,  $3485. 
Stock  in  trade,  |6200.  Money  at  interest,  $44,933. 
Number  of  sheep,  1200.  Do.  neat  stock,  1060.  Da 
horses,  174. 

Rye,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  and  west  by 
Portsmouth,  and  south  by  North  Hampton.  Its  eastern 
border  for  a  distance  of  six  miles  is  sea  coast.  Area,  7780 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-east ;  from 
Portsmouth,  6,  ^outh.  The  soil  is  naturally  hard  and 
stubborn  ;  but,  by  considerable  pains  in  enriching  and  till- 
ing, it  has  been  made  quite  productive.  There  is  a  small 
harbor  near  Goss's  Mill,  into  which  vessels  of  70  or  80 
tons  burden  may  enter  at  high  water.  Fishing  is  carried 
on  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  with  fair  profit.  On  the 
shore  are  three  large  and  pleasant  beaches,  —  Wallis's, 
Sandy,  and  Jenness's,  —  which  have  become  widely  cele- 
brated as  places  of  summer  resort.     About  a  quarter  of  a 


876  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

mile  from  the  meeting  house,  in  the  midst  of  a  white  pine 
grove,  is  an  extensive  granite  quarry,  from  which  abundant 
supplies  are  taken  for  building  and  other  purposes. 

Breakfast  Hill,  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  was  so 
named  from  an  incident  which  occurred  on  its  summit  at 
the  time  of  the  Indian  invasion  of  1696.  The  savages  had 
been  down  to  the  sea  shore  for  the  purpose  of  fishing ;  and 
returning  to  the  top  of  this  hill,  they  sat  down  and  pre- 
pai'ed  their  morning  meal.  While  thus  engaged  they  were 
surprised  by  a  party  of  rangers,  and  captured.  The  inhai)- 
itants  .suffered  much  in  early  times  from  the  Indians.  In 
1694  John  Locke  was  killed  while  reaping  grain  in  his 
field.  In  1696,  at  Sandy  Beach,  21  persons  at  one  time 
were  killed  or  captured  by  them. 

In  the  French  or  Canada  war  14  persons  belonging  to 
this  town  were  killed  or  died  in  service ;  and  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war  38  of  its  inhabitants  lost  their  lives  in  service 
at  sea  or  on  the  land. 

Rye  was  taken  from  Portsmouth,  Greenland,  Hampton, 
and  New  Castle.'  It  was  settled  as  early  as  1635,  but  was 
not  incorporated  until  1719. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  July  20,  1726. 
There  is  at  present  a  Methodist  and  a  Freewill  Baptist 
society. 

There  are  also  four  stores  and  five* hotels,  viz.,  the 
Ocean  House,  the  Atlantic,  the  Washington  House,  the 
Union  House,  and  the  Sagamore  House  ;  all  of  which  are 
opened  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors  in  the  warm 
season. 

Population,  1296.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  $388,736.  Value  of  lands,  $257,364. 
Stock  in  trade,  $450.  Value  of  mills,  $795.  Money 
at  interest,  $13,698.  Number  of  sheep,  234.  Do.  neat 
stock,  900.     Do.  horses,  149. 


^^■o 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  377 

Salem,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by  Derry, 
north-east  by  Atkinson,  east  and  south  by  Lawrence,  Mas- 
sachusetts, south-west  by  Pelham,  and  west  by  Windham. 
Area,  15,600  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  40  miles, 
south  ;  from  Exeter,  20,  south-east.  Spiggot  River,  pass- 
ing through  this  town  in  a  southerly  direction,  receives  in 
its  course  numerous  branches,  and  affords  several  excellent 
mill  privileges.  The  surface  is  uneven,  affording  a  fair 
proportion  of  interval  and  upland.  The  soil  is  fertile. 
Th^re  are  several  factories,  mills,  mechanics',  and  machine 
shops.  The  inhabitants  are  intelligent,  industrious,  and 
enterprising.  Salem  was  incorporated  May  11,  1750.  The 
Congregational  church  was  formed  about  1740.  There 
aie  also  societies  of  Methodists  and  Freewill  Baptists. 

Population,  1555.  Number  of  polls,  341.  Inventory, 
|523,335.  Value  of  lands,  $366,204.  Stock  in  trade, 
$9170.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $25,125.  Money 
at  interest,  $17,300.  Number  of  sheep,  107.  Do.  neat 
stock,  956.     Do.  horses,  186. 

Salisbury,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  An- 
dover  and  Franklin,  cast  by  Franklin,  south  by  Boscawen 
and  Warner,  and  west  by  Warner.  Area,  about  26,000 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  16  miles,  north-west. 
Blackwater  River  waters  this  town,  flowing  nearly  through 
the  centre.  The  surface  is  uneven  ;  the  soil  of  the  upland 
is  strong,  deep,  and  loamy.  The  more  hilly  portion  affords 
some  fine  tracts  for  tillage,  but  is  mostly  excellent  pas- 
turage. On  Blackwater  River  is  considerable  very  fertile 
interval.  The  prevailing  rock  is  granite.  A  considerable 
portion  of  Kearsarge  is  within  the  limits  of  Salisbury. 
The  prospect  from  the  summit  of  this  mountain  is  magnifi- 
cent and  beautiful.  Salisbury  will  always  be  celebrated 
32* 


M 


378  NEW    HAMPSHIKE    AS   IT    IS. 

as  the  native  town  of  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  Webster.  On  a 
pleasant  eminence,  near  the  centre  village,  stands  the  house 
in  which  he  was  born  —  a  humble  edifice,  and  somewhat 
dilapidated.  The  late  Hon.  Ichabod  Bartlett,  Hon.  Thom- 
as H.  Pettingill,  and  Hon.  Charles  B.  Haddock,  for  many 
years  professor  in  Dartmouth  College,  and  present  charge, 
d'affaires  to  Portugal,  were,  natives  of  this  town.  It  was 
originally  granted  by  Massachusetts,  and  was  known  as 
Bakerstown.  It  was  afterwards  granted,  October  25, 1749, 
by  the  Masonian  proprietors,  and  called  Stevenstown.  •  It 
was  incorporated  by  New  Hampshire  under  its  present 
name  March  1,  1768.  It  was  settled,  in  1750,  by  Philip 
Call,  Nathaniel  Meloon,  Benjamin  Pettingill,  John  and 
Ebenezer  Webster,  Andrew  Bohonnon,  Edward  Eastman, 
and  others,  mostly  from  Kingston. 

The  early  settlers  suffered  much  from  the  inroads  of  the 
Indians.  On  the  16th  of  May,  1753,  Nathaniel  Meloon 
was  captured,  with  his  wife  and  three  children.  They 
were  taken  to  Canada,  where  himself  and  Avife  weie  sold  to 
the  French  in  Montreal.  The  children  were  kept  by  the 
Indians,  one  of  whom  returned  after  an  absence  of  nine 
years.  In  August,  1753,  the  wife  of  Philip  Call  was 
killed,  and  on  the  same  day  Samuel  Scribner  and  Robert 
Barber  were  captured  and  taken  to  Canada. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  November 
17,  1773.     The  Baptist  society  was  formed  May  25,  1789. 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Webster,  the  father  of  the  "  illustrious 
Daniel,"  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  a  patriot  of  the  revo- 
lution, an  officer  of  the  militia,  for  several  years  senator  in 
the  legislature,  and  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas. 

Population,  1228.  Number  of  polls,  254.  Inventory, 
$433,101.     Value  of  lands,  $270,793.     Do.  mills,  $2100. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  379 

Stock  in  trade,  $10,400.  Money  at  interest,  $35,841. 
Number  of  sheep,  6337.  Do.  neat  stock,  1321.  Do. 
horses,  191. 

Sanbornton,  Belknap  county.  Bounded  north  by  Mere- 
dith, east  by  Gilford,  south  by  Gilmanton,  Noithfield, 
Franklin,  and  Hill,  and  west  by  New  Hampton.  Distance 
from  Concord,  17  miles,  by  the  Boston,  Concord,  and 
Montreal  Railroad,  which  also  connects  it  with  Meredith 
Bridge.  The  bays  and  rivers  encircling  this  town  ^neas- 
ure  30  miles  in  extent ;  the  bay  between  Sanbornton  and 
Meredith  is  three  miles  in  width.  The  Winnipiseogee 
runs  along  its  eastern  and  southern  limits,  affording  many 
excellent  mill  seats.  It  is  the  only  stream  of  note.  Sal- 
mon Brook,  passing  through  the  north-west  part,  affords 
sufficient  water  power  to  drive  one  or  two  sawmills  and  a 
gristmill  during  a  portion  of  the  year.  The  surface  is  gen- 
erally uneven,  but  not  mountainous,  the  highest  hills,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  being  suitable  for  cultivation.  The 
soil  is  almost  universally  good,  and  well  rewards  indus- 
trious toil.  Two  or  three  miles  from  Sanbornton  Bridge, 
on  the  "  Gulf  Road,"  is  a  gulf  extending  nearly  a  mile 
through  very  hard,  rocky  ground,  38  feet  in  depth  and 
from  80  to  100  feet  in  width.  Such  is  the  corresjiondence 
of  the  sides,  that  the  beholder  is  strongly  impressed  with 
the  belief  that  they  were  sundered  by  some  natural  con- 
vulsion. In  the  declivity  of  a  neighboring  hill  is  a  cavern, 
which  may  be  entered  in  a  horizontal  direction  some  25  or 
30  feet. 

This  town  was  once  the  residence  of  a  powerful  tribe  of 
Indians,  or,  at  least,  a  place  of  common  resort.  At  the 
head  of  Little  Bay  are  still  to  be  seen  the  remains  of  an  an- 
cient fortification.     It  consisted  of  six  walls  —  one  extend- 


^? 


880  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

ing  along  the  river  and  across  a  point  of  land  into  the  bay, 
and  the  others  in  right  angles,  connected  by  a  circular  wall 
in  the  rear.  Within  the  fort  have  been  found  numer- 
ous Indian  i-elics,  such  as  implements  of  war,  husbandry, 
cooking  utensils,  Sec.  When  the  first  settlers  of  Sanborn- 
ton  arrived,  these  walls  were  breast  high,  and  within  the 
enclosure  large  oaks  were  growing. 

Sanbornton  Square  was  the  first  settled  part  of  the  town. 
It  contains  two  meeting  houses^  and  several  dwelling  houses. 
For  Several  years,  however,  the  business  of  the  town  has 
been  confined  to  Sanbornton  Bridge,  a  pleasant  and  thriv- 
ing vilhige,  situated  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  Winnipi- 
seogec  River,  and  about  three  and  a  half  miles  south-west- 
erly from  Little  Bay.  This  village  is  partly  in  Northfield 
and  partly  in  Sanbornton.  It  contains  two  meeting  houses, 
four  common  schools,  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Sem- 
inary and  Female  Collegiate  Institute,  five  stores,  one  sati- 
net factory,  employing  32  hands,  one  tweed  do.,  employing 
30  hands,  one  cotton  do.,  employing  about  50  hands,  one 
box  manufactory,  in  which  10  hands  are  employed,  and 
one  piano-forte  do.,  employing  15  hands.  There  is  also  one 
hotel,  situated  but  a  few  rods  from  the  depot.  It  is  large, 
commodious,  and  Avell  managed. 

The  Citizens  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1853.  Capital, 
$50,000. 

There  are  in  the  town  of  Sanbornton  eight  meeting 
houses,  two  of  which  belong  to  Congregational,  three  to 
Baptist,  two  to  Freewill  Baptist,  and  one  to  Methodist, 
societies.  There  are  also  twenty-eight  common  schools, 
eight  stores,  and  two  hotels. 
.  This  town  was  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors,  in 
1748,  to  several  persons  by  the  name  of  Sanborn,  and  was 
settled  in  1765,  by  John  Sanborn,  David  Duston,  Andrew 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  381 

Rowen,  and  others.  It  was  incorporated  March  1,  1770. 
About  this  time  the  Congregational  church  was  organized. 
The  first  Baptist  church  was  formed  in  1793. 

Population,  2(J95.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
712.  Inventory,  $823,423.  Value  of  lands,  |5 13,403. 
Stock  in  trade,  $10,215.  Value  of  mills  and  factories, 
$17,600.  Money  at  interest,  $45,005.  Number  of  sheep, 
3326.     Do.  neat  stock,  2636.     Do.  horses,  373. 

Sandown,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Chester  and  Freemont,  east  by  Danville,  south  by  Ilamp- 
stead,  and  west  by  Derry  and  Chester.  Area,  8532  acres, 
200  of  which  are  covered  with  water.  Distance  from 
Concord,  31  miles,  south-east;  from  Portsmouth,  26, 
south-west.  The  surface  is  uneven,  but  the  soil  is  produc- 
tive. Phillips's  Pond,  lying  in  the  south  part,  is  340  rods 
long  and  200  wide.  It  is  the  largest  body  of  water  in  the 
town.  Swamscot  River  flows  from  this  pond,  and  pursues 
a  level  course  for  nearly  two  miles,  when  another  stream 
unites  with  it.  From  this  point,  whenever  the  waters  are 
raised  by  sudden  freshets,  the  current  runs  back  towards 
the  pond  with  great  force. 

The  settlement  of  this  town  was  commenced  in  1736,  by 
Moses  Tucker,  Israel  and  James  Huse,  and  others.  A 
Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1759.  A  Meth- 
odist church  was  formed  in  1807. 

Sandown  was  originally  a  part  of  Kingston,  and  was  in- 
corporated April  6,  1756. 

Population,  566.  Number  of  polls,  125.  Inventory, 
$236,629.  Value  of  lands,  $123,760.  Stock  in  trade, 
$1650.  Value  of  mills,  $4150.  Money  at  interest, 
$20,310.  Number  of  sheep,  257.  Do.  neat  stock,  461. 
Do.  horses,  81. 


382  NEAV    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Sandwich,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Water- 
ville,  east  by  Tamworth,  south  by  Moultonborough,  and 
west  by  Holderness,  Campton,  and  Thornton.  Distance 
from  Concord,  52  miles,  north  ;  from  Ossipee,  22,  north- 
west. Area,  64,000  acres.  It  was  originally  granted  by 
Governor  Benning  Wentworth,  October  25,  1763,  and 
contained  an  area  of  six  miles  square.  In  September  of  the 
following  year,  an  additional  grant  was  made  called  Sand- 
wich Addition.  The  Sandwich  Mountains  are  a  lofty 
range,  extending  in  a  north-eastei'ly  course,  and  terminat- 
ing Chocorua  Peak  in  Albany.  Squam  Mountain  extends 
from  Holderness,  though  a  corner  of  Campton,  into  Sand- 
wich. Bear  Camp  and  Red  Hill  Rivers  are  the  largest 
streams.  About  one  fourth  of  Squam  Lake  lies  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  this  town,  and  in  connection  with  the  sur- 
rounding and  distant  mountains  affords  a  beautiful  prospect. 

Sandwich  is  a  fine  farming  town  ;  its  mountain  pastures 
are  excellent,  and  are  seldom  affected  by  drought.  It  is 
celebrated  for  its  fine  horses  and  cattle.  Great  efforts  are 
constantly  made  to  improve  the  stock. 

There  are  two  hotels,  eight  stores,  and  quite  a  number 
of  shoe  manufactories,  two  Congregational,  one  Methodist, 
and  two  Freewill  Baptist  meeting  houses,  and  a  large 
society  of  Quakers  or  Friends.  It  has  one  academy  and 
twenty-one  common  schools.  (^1658  have  been  expended 
the  present  year  for  scliools. 

Population,  2577.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
710.  Inventory,  $503,425.  Value  of  lands,  |262,824. 
Stock  in  trade,  $6770.  Value  of  mills,  $3610.  Money 
at  interest,  $16,803.  Number  of  sheep,  1975.  Do.  neat 
stock,  2772.     Do.  horses,  384. 

Seabrook,    Rockingham   county.      Bounded   north  by 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

Hampton  Falls,  east  by  the  Atlantic,  south  by  Salisbury, 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  South  Hampton  and  Kensing- 
ton. It  is  located  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the  state, 
15  miles  south  from  Portsmouth,  8  south-east  from  Ex- 
eter, and  about  45  south-east  from  Concord.  It  lies  on 
the  great  eastern  route  from  Boston  to  Portland.  The 
Eastern  Railroad  passes  nearly  through  the  centre  of  the 
town.  The  southerly  part  was  formerly  included  within 
the  limits  of  Massachusetts.  The  old  line  from  the  "  Bound 
Rock,"  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  Avhich  is  yet  observ- 
able the  inscription,  "A.  I^.  1657,  H.  B.,"  can  still  be 
traced  to  a  rock  near  the  "  Brick  School  House,"  marked 
*'  B.  T.,"  thence  inland.  The  remainder  of  the  territory 
was  a  part  of  "  Old  Hampton." 

The  west  part  of  the  town  is  undulating.  The  middle  and 
eastern  portions  are  comparatively  level.  The  soil  is  light, 
but  productive.  Extensive  tracts  are  covered  with  a  heavy 
and  valuable  growth  of  wood  and  timber.  Theie  are  also 
large  plains  of  salt  marsh.  Cam's  Brook,  rising  in  Salisbury, 
Massachusetts,  passes  through  the  south-east  part  of  the 
town,  and  affords  a  few  water  privileges  of  moderate  power, 
which  are  occupied  by  saw  and  gristmills.  Near  its  mouth 
is  a  valuable  tide  mill,  formerly  known  as  Walton's  —  now 
Robbins's  —  mill.  Several  small  streams  risinsr  in  this  and 
adjacent  towns,  and  uniting  in  the  broad  marsh  along  the 
eastern  border  forms  Seabrook  River,  which,  in  its  course  to- 
wards the  ocean,  unites  with  Hampton  River.  The  beach  is  a 
favorite  resort  in  the  warm  season.  Titcomb's  Hill,  partly 
in  this  town  and  partly  in  South  Hampton,  and  Grape  liill, 
in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town,  lying  partly  in  Massa- 
chusetts, are  fine  elevations,  which  afford  extensive  aa.4 
beautiful  prospects  of  the  surrounding  country.  A  portion 
of  the   inhabitants    are    engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 


S84  NKW    HAMPSHIRE     VS    IT    IS. 

whose  highly  cultivated  farms  yield  abundaiit  crops.  Boat 
building  is  carried  on  more  extensively  here  than  in  any 
other  town  in  the  state.  Several  of  the  inhabitants  are 
engaged  in  seafaring  pursuits.  The  fishing  business  is  very 
lucrative,  though  laborious.  The  manufacture  of  shoes  is  by 
no  means  a  small  item  in  the  industrial  accouut  of  this  town. 

Dearborn  Academy,  founded  in  1851,  is  located  in  Sea- 
brook.  A  substantial  brick  edifice,  54  feet  by  40,  was 
erected  in  1853.  An  endowment  of  $15,000  was  made 
by  the  late  Dr.  Edward  Dearborn,  an  eminent  physician 
and  a  distinguished  citizen.  It  has  a  pleasant  and  salu- 
brious situation  in  Seabrook  Village,  commanding  exten- 
sive views  of  neighboring  villages,  distant  mountains,  and 
the  broad  Atlantic. 

There  are  four  meeting  houses  in  this  town.  The  Old 
South  meeting  house,  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  was 
erected  in  the  year  1763,  and  was  occupied  by  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  societies.  The  Friends'  meeting 
house  was  built  about  1765,  and  is  situated  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  The  Methodist  chapel  was  built  in 
1835.  The  Evangelical  Congregational  meeting  house 
was  dedicated  July  6,  1836.  A  fund  of  $4000  was  left 
by  the  late  Dr.  Dearborn,  the  income  of  which  is  to  be 
used  for  the  support  of  the  gospel  forever  in  this  place. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  town  were  mostly  from  Massa- 
chusetts. They  suffered  considerably  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  Indians.  On  one  occasion  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Dow,  living  near  a  swamp  thickly  covered  with  trees 
and  shrubs,  observed  to  his  brother  that  he  was  fearful  that 
the  Indians  were  lurking  near  by,  being  satisfied  that  they 
had  been  prowling  about  his  house  the  night  previous.  He 
was  advised  to  go  into  the  bushes  and  watch.  He  did 
so,  and  soon  perceived  them  making  their  way  from  the 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  385 

swamp.  He  then  ran  through  the  street,  crying,  "In- 
dians !  "  A  Mr.  Gove,  who  lived  in  the  house  now  owned 
by  David  Gove,  hearing  the  cry,  jumped  upon  a  stump, 
and  counted  thirty-two,  as  they  issued  from  their  place  of 
concealment,  crawling  upon  their  hands  and  knees.  They 
first  killed  a  widow  named  Hussey,  who  was  passing  by 
the  swamp  ;  they  led  her  into  the  bushes,  and  beat  out  her 
brains  with  a  tomahawk.  She  was  greatly  lamented  by  the 
society  of  Friends,  among  whom  she  had  been  very  prom- 
inent as  a  speaker.  An  earthen  vessel  which  she  Avas  then 
carrying  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Jonathan  Gove.  They 
next  killed  Thomas  Lancaster,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
mill.  His  cries  were  heard  by  some  men  who  were  build- 
ing a  garrison  near  by ;  they  ran  to  his  assistance,  but 
finding  the  Indians  superior  in  numbers  they  fled.  A 
friend  who  was  with  Lancaster  stopped,  on  his  way,  at  the 
house  of  the  late  EdM'ard  Gove,  to  "  drink  a  syllabub,"  and 
thus  escaped.  They  next  slew  Jonathan  Green,  beating 
his  head  ^\"ith  the  buts  of  their  guns,  and  mangling  him 
in  a  horrible  manner.  A  widow,  living  where  the  house 
of  Benjamin  Brown  now  stands,  left  her  child  with  two 
young  women  while  she  went  into  a  field  to  pull  flax. 
When  the  Indians  came  the  girls  fled,  leaving  the  child 
behind,  which  followed  after ;  but,  while  endeavoring  to 
climb  over  a  fence,  an  Indian  seized  it,  and  dashed  its  head 
against  a  plough  standing  near.  They  killed  and  scalped 
Nicholas  Bond  in  his  own  house. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  Christopher  Hussey,  Jo- 
seph Dow,  and  Thomas  Philbrick.  Meshech  Weare,  the 
first  chief  magistrate  of  New  Hampshire  after  the  revolu- 
tion, settled,  it  is  believed,  within  the  limits  of  this  town. 
His  grandfather,  Nathaniel  "Weare,  was  an  agent  for  the 
colony,  and  spent  considerable  time  in  England  to  prose- 
33 


386  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

cute  the  complaints  of  the  colonists  against  the  royal  govern- 
or, Edward  Cranfield.  His  son,  Nathaniel  Weare,  father 
of  Meshech  Weare,  was  much  engaged  in  public  business. 
Both  lived  within  the  present  limits  of  Seabrook. 

Edward  Gove  distinguished  himself  by  his  opposition  to 
the  British  government.  He  was  at  length  arrested,  con- 
victed of  high  treason,  and  confined  in  the  Tower  of  Lon- 
don. After  three  years  of  imprisonment  he  was  released, 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  New  England.  The  order 
for  his  pardon  is  still  preserved,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  copy  :  — 

**  James  E.. 

"  Where  as  Edward  Gove  was  neare  three  years  since 
apprehended,  tryed  &  condemned  for  High  Treason  in  our 
Colony  of  New-England,  in  America,  and  in  June  1683 
was  committed  prisoner  to  the  Tower  of  London,  we  have 
thought  fit  hereby  to  signify  our  Will  and  Pleasure  to  you, 
that  you  cause  him,  the  said  Edward  Gove,  to  be  inserted 
in  the  next  general  Pardon  that  shall  come  out  for  th« 
poor  Convicts  of  Newgate,  without  any  condition  of  trans- 
portation, he  giving  such  security  for  his  good  behavior 
as  you  will  think  requisite.  And  for  so  doing,  this  shallbe 
your  Warrant.  Given  at  our  Court  at  Windsor  the  14  day 
of  September  1685,  in  the  first  year  of  our  Reign. 
"  ]3y  his  Maj.  his  command. 

"  Sunderland. 

*'  To  our  Trusty  and  Welbeloved  the  Recorder  of  our 
Citty  of  Jjondon,  and  all  others  whom  i|;  my  concerne. 

"  Edward  Gove  to  be  inserted  in  ye  General  Pardon." 

The  following  letter,  directed  to  him  during  his  confine- 
ment, is  interesting  on  account  of  its  antiquity  at  least :  — 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  387 

Superscription :  "  for  my  honoured  father  Edward  Gove. 
In  the  tower  or  elsewhere.     I  pray  deliver  with  Care." 

"  From  hampton  The  31  of  ye  first  month  1686. 
"  deare  and  kind  father,  througli  gods  good  mercy  hav- 
ing this  opportunity  to  send  unto  ye  hoping  in  ye  Lord 
yt  ye  art  in  good  health  —  deare  father  my  desire  is  yt 
God  in  his  good  mercy  would  bee  pleased  to  keep  ye  both 
in  body  and  soul.  Loving  father  it  is  our  duty  To  pray 
unto  god  That  hoe  would  by  his  grace  give  us  good  hearts 
to  pray  unto  him  for  grace  and  strength  to  support  us  so 
yt  ye  Love  of  our  hearts  and  souls  should  bee  always  fixed 
on  him,  whereby  we  should  Live  A  heavenly  Life  while 
wee  arc  upon  ye  earth  so  yt  gods  blessing  may  be  with  us 
always,  as  our  Savior  Christ  says  in  ye  world  ye  shall 
have  Troubles  but  in  mee  ye  shall  have  peace  so  in  ye 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  ye  true  light  of  yee  world  There  is 
peace  &  joy  &  love  and  strength  and  power  &  truth  to 
keep  all  those  yt  trust  in  him.  so  deare  father  I  hope  god 
in  his  good  mercy  will  bee  pleased  to  Bring  us  together 
Againe  to  his  glory  and  our  good.  — intrcet  ye  Let  us  heare 
from  ye  all  oppertunities  as  may  bee  —  for  it  is  great  joy 
to  us  to  heare  from  ye  father.  I  have  one  Little  daughter 
—  my  husband  is  troubled  with  a  could  —  hee  Remembers 
his  duty  to  ye  —  So  no  more  at  present.  I  Eest  thy  duti- 
ful son  and  daughter 

"  Abraham  Clements  & 
"  Hannah  Clements." 

Seabrook  was  granted,  June  3,  1768,  to  Jonathan  "Weare 
and  others.     Settlement  commenced  here  in  1638. 

The  society  of  the  Friends  Avas  formed  in  1701.  A 
Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  1764. 

Population,  1393.     Legal  voters  in  1854,  325.     Inven- 


388  XEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

tory,  $312,168.  Value  of  lands,  $136,520.  Money  at 
interest,  $18,050.  Number  of  sheep,  65.  Do.  neat  stock, 
474.     Do.  horses,  70. 

Sharon,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Pe- 
terborough, east  by  Temple,  south  by  New  Ipswich  and 
Kindge,  and  west  by  Jaffrey.  Area,  10,000  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  48  miles,  south-west ;  from  Amherst, 
18,  west.  The  surface  is  uneven,  and  in  some  parts  moun- 
tainous. It  has  no  village,  no  tavern,  and  no  store.  There 
is  in  the  south-easterly  part  of  the  town  a  spring  strongly 
impregnated  with  iron  and  sulphur,  and  is  in  high  repute 
for  its  medicinal  virtues.  Sharon  was  incorporated  June 
24,  1791. 

Population,  226.  Inventory,  $124,885.  Value  of  lands, 
$73,114.  Stock  in  trade,  $1300.  Number  of  sheep, 
87.     Do.  neat  stock,  401.     Do.  horses,  46.     Do.  polls,  45. 

Shelburne,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Success, 
east  by  Riley  and  Gilead,  Maine,  south  by  White  Moun- 
tain region,  and  west  by  Gorham.  Area,  18,140  acres. 
Ameriscoggin  River  passes  through  the  centre  of  this  town, 
into  which  fall  the  waters  of  Rattle  River  and  several  small 
streams.  The  soil  on  both  sides  of  the  river  is  excellent, 
producing  grain,  grass,  and  potatoes  in  abundance.  A 
short  distance  from  the  river  the  land  becomes  broken  by 
mountains,  and  is  unfit  for  cultivation.  Mount  Moriah,  an 
elevated  peak  of  the  White  Mountains,  lies  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town.  Moses'  Rock  is  a  huge  mass  of  granite, 
60  feet  high,  90  long,  very  smooth,  and  rising  at  an  angle 
of  50°.  In  1775  David  and  Benjamin  Ingalls  commenced 
a  settlement  here.  In  August,  1781,  a  party  of  Indians 
visited    this    town,    killed    one    man,    captured    another. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  389 

plundered  the  houses,  and  returned  to  Canada  in  triumph. 
The  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  Railroad  passes  through 
the  southern  part  of  the  town. 

Shelburne  was  incorporated  December  13,  1820. 

Population,  480.  Number  of  polls,  70.  Inventory, 
$101,832.  Yalue  of  lands,  $65,130.  Stock  in  trade, 
$980.  Value  of  mills,  $200.  Money  at  interest,  $4400. 
Number  of  sheep,  541.  Do.  neat  stock,  415.  Do. 
horses,  70. 

SoMERSWORTH,  StrafFord  county.  Bounded  north-east 
by  South  Berwick,  Maine,  south  by  Rollinsford,  south-west 
by  Dover,  and  north-west  by  Rochester.  Distance  from 
Concord,  45  miles,  east ;  from  Portsmouth,  12,  north-west. 
Since  the  separation  of  Rollinsford,  this  town  is  very  small 
in  area,  including  only  about  5760  acres.  It  is  situated  on 
the  Salmon  Fall  River,  and  is  one  of  the  most  important 
towns  in  the  county  of  Strafford.  Here  centre  the  Great 
Falls  and  ConAvay  Railroad,  a  branch  of  the  Boston  and 
Maine  Railroad,  the  Great  Falls  and  South  Berwick  Branch 
Railroad,  which  connects  with  the  Eastern  Railroad.  Here 
also  is  the  terminus  of  the  York  and  Cumberland  Rail- 
road. Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  reside  in  the 
village  of  Great  Falls,  which  has  grown  up  since  1823. 
Prior  to  that  time  the  only  buildings  in  the  vicinity  were 
a  saw  and  gristmill,  and  two  dwelling  houses.  In  1823 
the  Great  Falls  ^lanufacturing  Company  was  chartered,  and 
commenced  operations,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000.  This 
company  have  now  upwards  of  75,000  spindles,  and  are 
now  erecting  another  mill,  which  will  increase  the  number  of 
spindles  to  83,000,  being  a  larger  number  than  are  in  oper- 
ation by  any  other  corporation  in  the  United  States.  The 
goods  manufaptured  are  cotton,  consisting  of  sheetings, 
33* 


390  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

shirtings,  and  drillings,  the  number  of  yards  manufactured 
annually  amounting  to  17,000,000,  valued  at  $1,300,000. 
About  5,000,000  pounds  of  cotton  are  consumed  in  the 
same  time.  Number  of  operatives,  2000.  Amount  paid 
monthly  for  labor,  $33,000.  There  are  also  consumed  per 
annum  100  tons  of  starch,  valued  at  $9000  ;  3500  cords 
of  wood,  $14,000;  300  tons  of  coal,  $3000;  300,000 
feet  of  lumber,  $4000  ;  6000  gallons  of  sperm  oil,  $9000  ; 
200  tons  of  iron,  $1750;  leather  for  belting  and  other  pur- 
poses, $3000.  This  company  also  have  a  bleachery,  where 
8,000,000  yards  of  cotton  cloth  are  bleached  annually. 

The  Great  Falls  Machine  Company  employ  80  men ; 
consume  4,500,000  pounds  of  iron  per  annum,  and  600 
tons  of  coal ;  manufacture  machinery,  gas  pipe,  stove  and 
all  other  kinds  of  castings.  Value  of  products  per  an- 
num, about  $150,000. 

There  is  also  a  machine  shop  owned  by  several  individ- 
uals, whose  annual  business  is  $50,000. 

The  Great  Falls  Bank  has  a  capital  of  $150,000. 

Somersworth  Savings  Bank  —  deposits  $175,000. 

The  Great  Falls  Gaslight  Company  —  capital,  $60,000. 
The  streets  and  principal  buildings  are  lighted  with  gas. 

The  town  of  Somersworth  has  recently  purchased  a 
tract  of  40  acres,  about  a  mile  from  the  village,  for  a  cem- 
etery. The  sum  of  $3000  has  already  been  expended  in 
enclosing,  laying  out,  and  ornamenting  the  grounds.  The 
location  is  retired,  but  inviting  and  beautiful. 

Great  efibrts  have  been  made  in  this  town  for  the  .ad- 
vancement of  common  schools.  The  Somersworth  Act, 
so  called,  which  provides  for  the  union  of  several  school 
districts  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  high  schools,  on  a 
graduated  system,  had  its  origin  here.  The  excellence  of 
this  system  has  been  most  satisfactorily  proved  in  this  and 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  391 

other  towns.  The  school  house  in  this  village  is  in  all 
respects  one  of  the  best  constructed  in  the  state.  Here  the 
scholar  may  obtain  as  complete  an  education  as  is  general- 
ly acquired  in  the  academies  of  New  England.  Number 
of  scholars  in  the  high  school,  80.  Do.  in  all  the  depart- 
ments, 800. 

The  Manufacturers  and  Village  Library  Association  has 
3500  well-selected  books.  There  are  five  meeting  houses 
—  one  Congregational,  one  Baptist,  one  Freewill  Baptist, 
and  two  ]Methodist.  The  village  is  named  from  the  im- 
mense waterfall  in  Salmon  Fall  River  at  this  place.  Its 
descent  within  a  very  short  distance  is  100  feet,  furnishing 
some  of  the  most  valuable  mill  privileges  in  the  countiy. 

The  various  departments  of  industry,  especially  the  me- 
chanical and  mercantile,  are  actively  pursued,  and  impart  a 
healthy  vigor  to  the  whole  community. 

Somersworth  was  settled  between  1650  and  ITOO,  by 
William  Wentworth,  John  Hall,  William  Stiles,  and  others. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1675,  George  and  Maturin  Rick- 
er  were  surprised  and  killed  by  a  party  of  Indians  lying 
in  ambush  about  half  a  mile  north-cast  from  Yarney's  Hill. 
They  were  then  stripped  of  their  arms  and  garments. 
In  1724,  Ebenezer  Downs,  a  Quaker,  was  taken  by 
the  Indians,  and  carried  to  Canada.  He  was  grossly  in- 
sulted and  abused  because  he  refused  to  dance  with  the 
other  captives  for  the  amusement  of  the  savages.  He  was 
redeemed  in  the  following  year.  Jabez  Garland  was  killed 
in  the  summer  of  1710,  on  his  return  from  public  worship. 
Gershom  Downs  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1711,  in  the 
marsh  between  Varney's  and  Otis's  Hills.  The  first  meet- 
ing house  was  erected  in  1729. 

The  present  population  of  Somersworth  is  about 
6000.     Number  of  legal  voters,  about  1200.     Inventory, 


392  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

$1,726,253.  Value  of  lands,  $212,579.  Stock  in  trade, 
$101,390.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $591,000.  Money 
at  interest,  $43,592.  Money  in  banks,  &c.,  $112,200. 
Number  of  sheep,  96.    Do.  neat  stock,  404.    Do.  horses,  172. 

South  Hampton,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north 
by  East  Kingston  and  Kensington,  east  by  Seabrook,  south 
by  Amesbury,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Newton.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  50  miles,  south-east ;  from  Portsmouth, 
18,  south-west.  The  surface  is  uneven,  but  not  rough. 
The  land  rises  in  moderate  swells,  and  affords  excellent 
pasturing  and  tillage.  The  inhabitants  make  but  little  pre- 
tensions, excepting  in  their  skill  in  agriculture  ;  and  their 
enterprise,  industry,  and  success  justly  entitle  them  to 
greater  credit  than  they  claim. 

Powow  River  passes  through  the  western  portion  of  the 
town,  affording  a  few  mill  seats.  The  most  valuable  priv- 
ileges on  this  stream  are  in  Amesbury,  Massachusetts.  There 
are,  one  meeting  house  belonging  to  the  Baptist  society,  one 
hotel,  two  stores,  and  an  academy,  with  a  fund  of  $4200, 
a  bequest  of  the  late  Hon.  Benjamin  Barnard,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  an  English  High  School,  free  to  all  the  chil- 
dren in  the  town  over  seven  years  of  age. 

This  town  was  incorporated  May  25,  1742.     A  Congre- ' 
gational  church  was  organized  in  1743. 

Population,  472.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  115. 
Inventory,  $268,496.  Value  of  lands,  $201,018.  Stock 
in  trade,  $3445.  Money  at  interest,  $7150.  Shares  in 
banks,  &c.,  $13,500.  Number  of  sheep,  223.  Do.  neat 
stock,  422.     Do.  horses,  69. 

South  Newmarket,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded 
north  by  Newmarket,  east  by  Strathara,  south  by  Exeter, 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  393 

and  west  by  Epping.  Distance  from  Concord,  36  miles, 
south-east ;  from  Portsmouth,  12,  south-west.  This  was 
originally  a  part  of  Newmarket,  from  which  it  was  sev- 
ered, and  incorporated  June  27,  18-i9.  Its  territory  is  small, 
comprising  not  more  than  6000  acres.  It  contains  two 
meeting  houses,  —  one  Methodist  and  one  Congregational, 
—  four  stores,  and  one  hotel. 

The  Swamscot  Machine  Company  employ  90  men  ;  man- 
ufacture gas  pipe,  steam  boilers,  steam  engines,  and  ma- 
chinists' tools  of  all  descriptions.     Capital  $52,000. 

There  is  also  an  iron  foundery,  in  which  30  men  are  em- 
ployed. 

The  junction  of  the  Portsmouth  and  Concord  and  the 
Great  Falls  Branch  Railroads  is  in  this  town. 

The  principal  streams  are  the  Swamscot  and  the  Piscas- 
sic  Rivers,  which  afford  several  valuable  mill  privileges. 
The  soil  of  this  township  is  good  and  well  cultivated. 

Population,  516.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  166. 
Inventory,  $104,556.  Value  of  lands,  $120,244.  Stock 
in  trade,  $13,460.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  ,$3516. 
Money  at  interest,  $16,172.  Number  of  sheep,  200. 
Do.  neat  istock,  309.     Do.  horses,  66. 

Springfield,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Grafton,  east  by  Wilmot  and  New  London,  south  by  New 
London  and  Sunapee,  and  west  by  Croyden  and  Grantham. 
Area,  28,330  acres,  2300  of  which  are  covered  with  water. 
Distance  from  Concord,  38  miles,  north-west ;  from  New- 
port, 13,  north-east.  A  branch  of  the  Sugar  River  has  its 
source  in  this  town,  also  a  branch  of  the  Blackwater  Riv- 
er, the  former  discharging  into  the  Connecticut,  and  the 
latter  into  the  Merrimack.  There  are  several  ponds  scat- 
tered through  the  town.     The  land  is  rough  and  stony,  but 


394  NE-W    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

not  mountainous.  The  soil  is  strong,  and  produces  -well. 
There  are  two  meeting  houses  belonging  to  societies  of 
the  Christian  order,  thirteen  common  schools,  three  stores, 
one  planing  mill,  and  several  factories.  There  are  still 
large  tracts  of  excellent  wood  and  timber  land  here.  In 
the  east  part  of  the  town  is  an  excellent  quarry  of  granite. 
Population,  1270.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  ^269,591.  Value  of  lands,  $146,714. 
Stock  in  trade,  $1500.  Value  of  mills,  $3325.  Money 
at  interest,  $12,857.  Number  of  sheep,  4637.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1326.     Do  horses,  166. 

Stark,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Stratford  and 
uugranted  lauds  called  "  Odell,"  east  by  Dummer  and  Mi- 
lan, south  by  Kilkenny,  and  west  by  Northumberland, 
Area,  20,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  135  miles, 
north  ;  from  Lancaster,  10,  north-east.  In  the  north-east 
part  of  the  town,  the  north  and  south  branches  of  the 
Ammonoosuc  form  a  junction.  Nash's  Stream  falls  into  this 
river,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  The  surface  is  much 
broken  and  hilly.  In  the  valleys  are  some  valuable  farms. 
Near  Mill  Mountain  is  a  ledge,  which  on  its  southern  part 
breaks  abruptly  into  a  precipice  of  nearly  300  feet,  while 
on  the  north  cattle  may  be  driven  to  its  top. 

This  town  was  settled  in  1788,  by  Caleb  and  Benjamin 
Smith.  It  was  incorporated  December  28,  1832.  Previ- 
ous to  this  time  it  was  called  Piercy. 

Population,  418.  Number  of  polls,  93.  Inventory, 
96,213.  Value  of  lands,  $50,935.  Do.  mills,  $3075. 
Stock  in  trade,  $220.  Money  at  interest,  $5615.  Number 
of  sheep,  648.     Do.  neat  stock,  579.     Do  horses,  62. 

Stewaetstown,     Coos    county.     Bounded    north    by 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  395 

Clarksville,  east  by  Dixville,  south  by  Colebrook,  and.  west 
by  Canaan,  Vermont.  Area,  about  23,040  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  150  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster, 
40,  north-east.  Connecticut  Kiver  passes  along  the  west- 
ern border.  It  is  also  watered  by  Bishop's  Brook,  Dead- 
water,  and  Mohawk  Rivers.  Little  and  Great  Diamond 
Ponds  are  the  principal  ponds  ;  both  of  these  are  well 
stored  with  salmon  trout.  In  the  north-east  part  of  the 
town  is  an  extensive  tract  of  land,  unsettled,  Avhich  fur- 
nishes great  quantities  of  excellent  timber.  There  are  five 
sawmills  in  operation  here. 

There  are  in  this  town  two  meeting  houses,  —  one  Con- 
gregational and  one  Christian,  —  one  hotel,  three  stores, 
one  woollen  factory,  one  gristmill,  one  iron  foundery, 
and  one  starch  factory,  at  which  a  very  large  quantity  of 
starch  is  annually  manufactured. 

Stewartstown  was  incorporated  in  December,  1T99.  It 
was  settled  prior  to  the  revolution,  but  after  the  war  broke 
out  it  was  abandoned.  The  original  grantors  were  Sir 
George  Cockburn,  Sir  George  Coleman,  John  Stewart,  and 
John  Nelson.  During  the  war  of  1812,  a  blockhouse  or 
fort  was  erected  here,  and  occupied  until  1814.  On  the 
site  of  this  fort  the  American  and  British  surveyors  and  as- 
tronomers met  to  ascertain  the  45th  degree  of  north  lat- 
itude, between  the  two  nations,  according  to  the  terms  of 
the  treaty  of  Ghent. 

Population,  747.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  180. 
Inventory,  $153,598.  Value  of  lands,  $74,940.  Do. 
mills  and  factories,  $3775.  Stock  in  trade,  $2200. 
Money  at  interest,  $8235.  Number  of  sheep,  1385. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1148.     Do.  horses,  167. 

Stoddard,  Cheshire  county.    Bounded  north  by  Wash- 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

ington,  east  by  Windsor  and  Antrim,  south  by  Nelson  and 
Sullivan,  and  west  by  Gilsum  and  Marlow.  Area,  35,925 
acres,  1100  of  which  are  covered  with  water.  Distance 
from  Concord,  42  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene,  14, 
north-east.  It  is  situated  on  the  height  of  land  between 
the  Connecticut  and  Merrimack  Rivers.  Such  is  the  loca- 
tion of  some  of  the  houses,  that  the  rain  falling  upon  one 
side  of  the  roof  runs  into  the  former  river,  while  that  fall- 
ing upon  the  other  side  runs  into  the  latter.  The  soil  is 
deep,  underlaid  with  clay.  It  is  well  adapted  to  grazing. 
The  south  branch  of  Ashuelot  River  has  its  source  near 
the  centre  of  the  town.  Long  Pond,  lying  partly  in  this 
town  and  partly  in  Washington,  is  a  pleasant  sheet  of 
water,  abounding  with  various  kinds  of  fish.  Island  Pond 
includes  about  300  acres,  and  is  studded  with  small  islands. 
Branch  River  affords  many  valuable  mill  privileges. 

There  are  in  this  town  two  hotels,  three  stores,  five  saw- 
mills, one  gristmill,  five  shingle  and  clapboard  mills,  and 
one  pail  factory,  furnishing  employment  for  20  men. 
There  are  two  glass  factories,  each  of  which  contains  eight 
pot  furnaces,  which  are  kept  constantly  heated  during  six 
months  in  the  year.  The  value  of  products  amounts  an- 
nually to  about  $10,000,  and  consists  of  window  glass  and 
glass  ware  of  various  kinds.  The  whole  number  of  hands 
employed  in  the  glass  works,  including  both  sexes,  is  200. 
There  are  also  tlii'ee  rake  manufactories,  two  extensive  tan- 
neries, and  three  blacksmiths'  shops.  Granite  of  a  very 
fine  grain  is  abundant,  and  is  used  largely  for  building  and 
other  purposes. 

There  are  two  religious  societies  —  one  Congregational 
and  one  Universalist  —  about  equal  in  numbers  and  wealth. 
The  former  was  organized  September  4,  1787.  The  late 
Isaac  Robinson,  D.  D.,  was  ordained  January  5,  1803,  and 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  397 

continued  his  labors  here  until  July  9,  1854,  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  mental  powers, 
of  untiring  energy  and  perseverance.  Although  he  en- 
joyed but  very  slight  advantages  for  education,  yet  by  close 
and  unremitted  application  he  became  a  sound  and  learned 
divine,  as  well  as  a  scholar  of  unusual  attainments  in  the 
various  departments  of  science  and  literature.  He  was 
universally  beloved,  and  his  death  was  deeply  regretted. 

This  town  was  formerly  called  Limerick.  It  was  incor- 
porated November  4,  1774,  when  it  received  the  name  of 
Stoddard  from  Colonel  Samson  Stoddard,  to  whom,  with 
others,  it  was  granted.  It  was  settled  in  June,  1769,  by 
John  Taggard  and  others.  The  hardships  of  the  first  set- 
tlers were  very  great. 

Population,  1105.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
250.  Inventory,  $399,408.  Value  of  lands,  $242,936. 
Stock  in  trade,  1 13,006.  Value  of  niiJls,  $3200.  Money 
at  interest,  $36,348.  Number  of  sheep,  4107.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1056.     Do.  horses,  200. 

Strafford,  Strafford  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
Farmington,  south-east  by  Barrington,  south-west  by 
Northwood  and  Pittsfield,  and  north-west  by  Barnstead. 
Area,  about  29,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  30 
miles,  north-east ;  from  Dover,  15,  north-west.  The  sur- 
face is  uneven,  and  in  the  north-west  part  mountainous. 
The  soil  is  generally  good.  Bow  Pond  lies  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  towu,  is  650  rods  long  and  400  wide, 
and  is  the  source  of  one  of  the  principal  branches  of  Isin- 
glass River.  "Wild  Goose  Pond  lies  between  this  town 
and  Pittsfield,  and  Trout  Pond  is  west  of  the  Blue  Hills, 
which  cross  the  north-west  part  of  the  town.  The  inhab- 
itants  are  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture.  Great  attention 
34 


398  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

is  paid  to  the  raising  of  stock.  Straflford  furnishes  some 
veiy  fine  horses  and  cattle.  There  are  two  Freewill  Bap- 
tist societies  here,  one  Christian  and  one  Methodist.  Straf- 
ford was  originally  a  part  of  Barrington,  and  was  severed 
from  it  and  incorporated  June  17,  1820. 

Population,  1920.  Number  of  polls,  470.  Inventory, 
$491,505.  Value  of  lands,  $302,661.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3-1:00.  Value  of  mills,  $3608.  Money  at  interest, 
$12,510.  Number  of  sheep,  1460.  Do.  neat  stock, 
2092.     Do.  horses,  333. 

Stratford,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Columbia, 
east  by  imgranted  lands,  called  "  Odell,"  south  by  Stark  and 
Northumberland,  and  Avest  by  Brunswick,  Vermont.  This 
is  a  large  township,  extending  along  the  Connecticut  River 
a  distance  of  ten  miles.  The  intel*val  is  very  fertile,  and 
varies  from  one  fourth  to  one  mile  in  width.  The  soil, 
except  along  the  river,  is  rocky,  gravelly,  and  cold.  The 
"  Peaks,"  two  mountains  of  a  conical  form,  situated  in  the 
south-east  part  of  the  town,  are  seen  at  a  great  distance. 
There  are  several  streams,  the  largest  of  which  are  Bog 
Brook  and  Nash's  River.  Stratford  was  incorporated  No- 
vember 16,  1779.  First  settlers,  Isaac  Johnston,  James 
Curtis,  James  Brown,  Josiah  Lampkins,  and  Archippus 
Blodgett. 

Population,  552.  Number  of  polls,  183.  Inventory, 
$146,233.  Value  of  lands,  $71,603.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3788.  Value  of  mills,  $2770.  Number  of  sheep,  517. 
Do.  neat  stock,  678.     Do.  horses,  204. 

Stratham,  Rockingham  county.  Bounded  north  and 
east  by  Greenland  and  North  Hampton,  south  by  Exeter, 
and  west  by  Exeter  and  Great  ]3ay.     Area,  10,120  acres. 


AZETTEEK    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  899 

Distance  from"  Concord,  43  miles,  south-east  ;  from  Exeter, 
3,  north-east.  The  land  is  even,  and  well  calculated  for 
agricultural  purposes.  Fruits  of  all  kinds  are  raised  in 
greater  abundance  here  than  in  any  other  town  in  the  state. 
Stratham  is  celebrated  for  its  extensive  nurseries  of  fruit 
trees.  From  the  summit  of  Stratham  Hill,  in  this  town, 
a  beautiful  and  extensive  prospect  is  afforded  of  the 
surrounding  country,  including  the  White  Mountains, 
Great  Bay,  and  the  ocean.  This  toAvn  was  a  part  of  the 
Swamscot  Patent,  or  Hilton's  Purchase.  In  31697  there 
were  35  families  in  the  place.  It  was  incorporated  March 
20,  1716. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  at  a  very  early 
date.  First  settled  preacher,  Rev.  Henry  Rust,  ordained 
in  1718.  There  are  at  present  two  Baptist  societies,  and 
one  Congregational. 

Population,  843.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  200. 
Inventory,  $378,629.  Value  of  lands,  $185,137.  Stock 
in  trade,  $150.  Value  of  mills,  $2330.  Money  at  inter- 
est, $26,257.  Number  of  sheep,  659.  Do.  neat  stock, 
735.     Do.  horses,  134. 

Success,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Cambridge, 
east  by  Grafton  and  Riley,  Maine,  south  by  Shelburne,  and 
west  by  Berlin  and  Milan.  Area,  about  30,000  acres. 
This  is  a  rough  and  rugged  township.  In  the  south  part 
it  is  mountainous.  The  soil  is  hard  and  difficult  of  cul- 
tivation. It  was  granted,  February  12,  1773,  to  Benjamin 
Mackay  and  others.  Distance  from  Concord,  143  miles, 
north-east  ;  from  Lancaster,  30,  east. 

Sullivan,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Gilsum 
and  Stoddard,  east  by  Stoddard  and  Nelson,  south  by  Rox- 


400  XEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

bury  and  Keene,  and  west  by  Keene  and  Gilsum.  Area, 
12,^12  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  43  miles,  south- 
west ;  from  Keene,  6,  east.  The  south-east  part  of  the 
town  is  watered  by  Ashuelot  River.  There  are  two  small 
ponds,  the  one  called  Bolster,  the  other  Chapman's  Pond. 
The  surface  is  generally  even.  The  soil  is  very  produc- 
tive, and  well  cultivated.  The  inhabitants  are  chiefly 
formers,  and  are  intelligent,  industrious,  and,  for  the  most 
part,  independent.  In  1854  there  was  not  a  person  as- 
sessed for  his  poll  vv'ho  was  not  taxed,  besides,  for  property 
of  more  or  less  value  —  a  circumstance,  at  least,  of  rare 
occurrence.  There  is  one  religious  society  —  the  Congre- 
gational. Sulhvan  was  incorporated  September  27,  1787, 
and  received  its  name  from  President  Sullivan,  the  chief 
magistrate  of  New  Hampshire  at  that  time. 

Population,  468.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  107. 
Inventory,  $213,718.  Value  of  lands,  1 135,776.  Stock 
in  trade,  $1605.  Value  of  mills,  $2500.  Money  at  in- 
terest, $23,704.  Number  of  sheep,  2784.  Do.  neat  stock, 
714.     Do.  horses,  101. 

SuNAPEE,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Spring- 
field, east  by  NeAv  London  and  Newbury,  south  by  Goshen, 
and  west  by  Newport  and  Croyden.  Area,  15,666  acres, 
3000  of  which  are  covered  with  water.  Distance  from 
Concord,  35  miles,  north-west ;  from  Newport,  7,  east. 
By  far  the  larger  portion  of  Sunapee  Lake  lies  within  the 
limits  of  this  town.  It  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  — 
abounding  with  fish — which,  with  the  surrounding  country, 
afibrds  a  charming  prospect.  This  is  the  principal  source 
of  Sugar  River,  which  flows  through  the  centre  of  the 
town,  through  Newport  and  Claremont  into  the  Connecti- 
cut, affording  in  its  course  numerous  excellent  water  privi- 


I 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIKE.  401 

leges.  The  surface  of  the  to^vn  is  uneven,  and  in  some 
parts  rocky  and  mountainous.  The  soil  is  strong  and  pro- 
ductive, if  carefully  cultivated.  It  was  granted,  November 
7,  17(58,  to  John  Sprague  and  others,  under  the  name  of 
*Saville.  It  was  settled,  in  177^,  by  emigrants  from  Rhode 
Island,  and  was  incorporated  April  4,  1781,  when  it  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Wendell  from  one  of  the  principal  pro- 
prietors, John  Wendell.  It  received  its  present  name  in 
1850.  A  Congregational  society  was  incorporated  June 
24,  1819.  There  are  at  present  two  religious  societies  — 
one  Christian  and  one  Methodist. 

Population,  787.  Number  of  polls,  191.  Inventory, 
$203,533.  Value  of  lands,  $125,451.  Stock  in  trade, 
$1550.  Money  at  interest,  $4770.  Number  of  sheep, 
1402.     Do.  neat  stock,  1061.     Do.  horses,  13^. 

Surrey,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Walpole 
an<l  Alstead,  east  by  Gilsum,  south  by  Keene,  and  west  by 
Westmoreland  and  Walpole.  Area,  12,212  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  52  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene, 
6,  north-west.  This  town  is  watered  by  Ashuelot  River, 
along  which  there  is  a  valuable  tract  of  interval  extending 
nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  town  from  north  to  south. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  river  is  a  steep  mountain  of  consid- 
erable height,  upon  the  top  of  which  is  a  pond  of  water, 
three  acres  in  extent  and  about  25  feet  deep.  Surrey  was 
originally  a  part  of  Gilsum  and  Westmoreland.  It  was  in- 
corporated March  9,  1769.  The  first  settlement  was  made 
in  1764,  by  Peter  Heyward.  He  began  clearing  land  and 
cultivating  it  in  the  summer  preceding,  making  his  home 
at  the  fort  in  Keene.  lie  was  accustomed  to  go  to  his 
farm  in  the  morning,  and  return  to  the  fort  at  night,  guard- 
ed only  by  his  dog  and  gun,  though  the  savages  were  at* 
34* 


•^2  ?rEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

that  time  lurking  in  the  woods.  A  Congregational  church 
was  organized  June  12,  1769.  There  are  two  meeting 
houses  in  this  town,  but  there  is  no  regular  preaching  in 
either.  There  are  foiu-  common  schools,  two  sawmills, 
one   gristmill,  two   hotels,  and  one  store. 

Population,  556.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
117.  Inventory,  $179,201.  Value  of  lands,  $93,633. 
Do.  mills,  $900.  Stock  in  trade,  $950.  Money  at  inter- 
est, $15,200.  Number  of  sheep,  2130.  Do.  neat  stock, 
493.     Do.  horses,  95. 

Sutton,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  New 
London  and  Wilmot,  east  by  Wilmot  and  Warner,  south 
by  Warner  and  Bradford,  and  west  by  Newbury.  Area, 
24,300  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  25  miles,  north- 
west. The  southerly  branch  of  Warner  River  enters  this 
town  on  the  south,  and  the  northerly  branch  passes  nearly 
through  the  centre  from  north  to  south,  and  affords  many 
valuable  mill  privileges.  It  is  skirted  by  large  and  fertile 
meadows,  which  produce  grass  and  grain  abundantly.  A 
lai'ge  branch  of  Blackwater  River  has  its  source  in  this 
town,  near  the  western  base  of  Kearsarge  Mountain,  a  large 
portion  of  which  is  in  this  town.  It  is  visited  by  hun- 
dreds, who  climb  to  its  summit,  attracted  by  the  rich  and 
charming  prospect  it  presents.  There  are  several  ponds  ; 
the  largest  is  Kezar's  Pond,  which  is  about  190  rods  square, 
and  Long  Pond,  which  is  350  rods  in  length  and  70  in 
width.  At  the  foot  of  King's  Hill  clay  of  a  superior  qual- 
ity exists  in  great  abundance.  Oranite  of  a  fine  quality, 
and  of  great  value  on  account  of  the  large  blocks,  free  from 
seams,  which  can  be  obtained,  is  found  here.  Plumbago  is 
obtained  in  considerable  quantities.  The  surface  is  diver- 
sified with  hills  and  valleys,  and  is  in  some  parts  rough  and 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  409 

mountainous.  The  soil  presents  all  the  varieties  of  fertil- 
ity and  barrenness. 

This  town  was  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors  in 
1749.  It  was  called  Pcrrystown,  from  Obadiah  Perry,  one 
of  the  principal  proprietors.  It  was  first  settled  in  1767, 
by  Daniel  Peaslee,  who  was  soon  followed  by  several  oth- 
ers. The  first  settlers  found  many  traces  of  the  Indians, 
such  as  hearths  skilfully  laid  with  stone,  gun  barrels,  ovens, 
stone  pestles,  mortars,  and  tomahawks.  An  Indian  burial- 
place  was  also  discovered  near  the  west  bank  of  Kezar's 
Pond. 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  here  in  April,  1782, 
and  a  Freewill  Baptist  about  1818.  There  are  at  present 
three  meeting  houses,  none  of  which  is  owned  or  occu- 
pied by  any  particular  religious  denomination,  but  all  are 
occupied  promiscuously  by  Baptists,  Freewill  Baptists, 
Methodists,  Universalists,  and  Second  Adventists.  There 
are  four  stores,  and  several  sawmills,  where  quite  an  exten- 
sive business  is  carried  on  in  the  manufacture  of  boards, 
shingles,  laths,  timber,  &c.  There  are  three  considerable 
villages  in  this  town,  in  one  of  v/hich  is  a  very  large 
tannery. 

Population,  1387.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  360. 
Do.  common  schools,  14.  Amount  of  school  fund,  .$1800. 
Inventory,  $407,438.  Value  of  lands,  $232,901.  Stock 
in  trade,  $5175.  Value  of  mills,  $5059.  Money  at 
interest,  $23,935.  Number  of  sheep,  4047.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1800.     Do.  horses,  258. 

SwANZF.Y,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Keene, 
east  by  Marlborough  and  Troy,  south  by  Richmond  and 
Winchester,  and  west  by  Winchester  and  Chesterfield. 
Aiea,    28,057   acres.     Distance   from  Concord,  60  miles. 


-iMf  NEW    HAMPSHrRE    AS    IT    IS. 

south-west :  from  Keene,  6,  south.  The  principal  streams 
are  the  Ashuelot  and  the  South  Branch  Rivers,  on  both  of 
which  are  valuable  water  privileges.  The  surface  of  the 
town  is  diversified  with  hills,  valleys,  and  swells  of  upland. 
Nearly  one  third  part  is  level,  and  consists  of  nearly  equal 
T)roportions  of  plain  and  interval.  The  soil  consists  of  the 
interval,  plain,  and  upland.  The  first  yields  grass  abun- 
dantly. The  plains  produce  excellent  crops  of  corn,  rye, 
&c.  The  soil  of  the  upland  is  strong  and  deep,  and  affords 
good  pasturing,  orcharding,  and  woodland.  Great  Pond 
and  Lock's  Pond,  lying  in  AVest  Swanzey,  are  each  about  a 
mile  long,  and  270  rods  in  Avidth.  Hyponeco  Brook 
abounds  with  trout.  There  are  three  meeting  houses,  —  a 
Baptist  and  a  Universalist  in  West  Swanzey,  and  a  Congre- 
gational in  Swanzey  Centre,  —  three  hotels,  five  stores,  and 
four  sash,  door,  and  blind  manufactories,  with  an  aggregate 
capital  of  ^10,000,  where  25  hands  are  employed;  four 
bucket  and  pail  manufactories,  employing  80  hands,  with  a 
capital  of  |)40,000  ;  one  box  manufactory,  employing  7 
men  ;  one  steam  mill,  employing  6  men ;  six  blacksmith 
shops,  besides  several  other  shops,  for  the  manufacture 
of  various  articles  of  merchandise.  There  are  four  vil- 
lages, —  one  called  Factory  Village,  another  Swanzey  Cen- 
tre, another  West  Swanzey,  and  another  West  Port,  —  all 
of  which  are  thriving  and  prosperous.  The  Ashuelot 
Railroad  passes  througli  the  two  latter  villages.  The  in- 
habitants are  industrioiis  and  enterprising. 

Swanzey  was  first  granted  by  Massachusetts,  in  1733,  to 
64  persons.  After  the  settlement  of  the  divisional  line,  it 
was  granted  by  New  Hampshire,  July  2,  1753.  Until  the 
latter  date  it  had  been  called  Lower  Ashuelot,  from  the 
Indian  name,  Ashaelock.  From  1741  to  1747,  the  inhab- 
itants suffered  greatly  from  Lidian  depredations.     Several 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  4|tf 

were  killed,  and  many  were  taken  prisoners.  Massa- 
chusetts, under  whose  jurisdiction  the  town  of  Swanzey 
remained  for  13  years,  at  this  trying  period  withdrew  her 
protection,  and  left  the  settlers  defenceless  and  exposed  to 
the  fury  of  the  savages.  They  abandoned  the  settlement, 
and  having  collected  together  their  furniture  and  household 
goods,  concealed  them  in  the  ground,  covering  them  with 
leaves,  bushes,  trees,  &c.  Scarce  had  they  turned  their  backs 
upon  the  desolate  dwellings  before  the  Indians  sot  fire  to 
them.  Every  house  except  one  was  consumed.  About 
three  years  afterwards  the  former  settlers  returned.  The 
first  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1741. 

Population,  JilOG.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
477.  Inventory,  $579,921.  Value  of  lands,  $354,840. 
Stock  in  trade,  $16,175.  Value  of  mills,  $22,341. 
Money  at  interest,  $30,197.  Number  of  sheep,  1065. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1416.     Do.  horses,  311. 

Tamworth,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north  by  Albany, 
east  by  Madison,  south  by  Ossipee,  and  west  by  Sandwich. 
Area,  28,917  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  60  miles, 
north.  The  surface  of  this  town  consists  of  ridges  and 
valleys,  generally  veiy  rocky  and  fertile,  thus  rendering  it 
one  of  the  best  grazing  towns  in  the  state.  There  are  no 
mountains  lying  wholly  within  the  limits  of  this  town, 
though  on  the  north  are  the  mountains  of  Albany,  and  a 
portion  of  Ossipee  Mountain  is  included  within  its  southern 
border.  The  principal  streams  are  Bear  Camp,  Swift,  and 
Corway  Rivers,  on  which  are  many  valuable  water  privi- 
leges. Lead  ore  and  argentiferous  galena  are  found  in  sev- 
eral localities. 

Tamworth  was  granted,  October  14, 1766,  to  John  Web- 
ster,   Jonathan    Moulton,   and  others.     It  was   settled  in 


406  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

1771,  by  Eicliard  Jackman,  Jonathan  Choate,  David  Phil- 
brick,  and  William  Eastman.  The  early  settlers  endured 
great  hardships  and  privations  in  consequence  of  an  early 
frost,  Avhich  cut  off  nearly  all  their  crops,  and  reduced 
them  almost  to  utter  starvation.  They  were  a  brave, 
hardy,  and  enterprising  company,  and  amidst  all  their  dis- 
couragements firmly  resolved  not  to  abandon  the  settle- 
ment. Fortunately  they  killed  now  and  then  a  deer,  or 
bear,  or  some  other  wild  animal  whose  flesh  was  palatable, 
and  thus  sustained  themselves  until  they  were  able  to  se- 
cure permanent  relief. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  about  1792. 
There  is  also  a  flourishing  society  of  Methodists. 

Population,  17G6.  Number  of  polls,  354.  Inventory, 
$287,875.  Value  of  lands,  .^142,405.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3000.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  |3350.  Money  at 
interest,  $11,950.  Number  of  sheep,  1341.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1881.     Do.  horses,  279. 

Temple,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Greenfield  and  Lyndeborough,  east  by  Lyndeborough 
and  Wilton,  south  by  Mason  and  New  Ipswich,  and  west 
by  Sharon  and  Peterborough.  Distance  from  Concord,  40 
miles,  south-west;  from  Amherst,  12,  west.  Area,  13,400 
acres.  Temple  Mountains  extend  along  its  western  and 
north-western  border,  among  which  are  the  sources  of 
numerous  small  streams.  From  the  summits  of  these 
mountains  the  prospect  towards  the  east  and  south  is  ex- 
tensive and  beautiful.  The  surface  is  generally  rocky  and 
uneven.  The  soil  is  of  ordinary  strength  and  fertility,  and 
may  be  profitably  improved  cither  for  tillage,  grazing,  or 
woodland.  This  town  is  the  easterly  portion  of  what  was 
formerly  called  Peterborough  Slip.      It  was  incorporated 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  40T 

August  26,  1768.  A  Congregational  church  was  orgaa- 
ized  October  2,  1771.  There  is  also  a  society  of  Univer- 
salists.  There  are  two  stores,  two  sawmills,  one  gristmill, 
one  tannery,  atd  one  hotel. 

Population,  579.  Number  of  polls,  119.  Inventory, 
$244,614.  Value  of  lands,  $165,630.  Stock  in  trade, 
.$1900.  Value  of  mills,  $850.  Money  at  interest,  $17,- 
500.  Number  of  sheep,  203.  Do.  neat  stock,  906.  Do. 
horses,  95. 

Thornton,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
ungranted  lands,  east  by  Waterville,  south  by  Campton, 
west  by  Ellsworth,  and  north-west  by  Woodstock  and  Lin- 
coln. Area,  28,490  acres.  Distance  from  Plymouth,  12 
miles,  north  ;  from  Concord,  58,  north.  It  is  watered  by 
Pemigewasset  River,  which  passes  through  the  town  in  a 
southerly  direction,  by  ^lad  River,  and  several  smaller 
streams.  On  Mill  Brook  is  a  beautiful  cascade,  where  the 
water  falls  seven  feet  in  a  distance  of  two  rods,  and  then 
tumbles  over  a  rock  42  feet  perpendicular.  The  brooks 
are  filled  with  trout,  and  afford  ample  amusement  for  the 
angler  and  pleasure  seeker.  The  soil  is  generally  fertile. 
The  interval  on  the  Pemigewasset  is  very  productive. 
There  are  several  elevations,  but  no  mountains.  Large 
tracts  of  land  are  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  maple, 
from  which  great  quantities  of  maple  sugar  are  made  an- 
nually. The  public  house  on  the  road  from  Plymouth  to 
Franconia  is  a  handsome  and  commodious  building,  and  is, 
in  all  respects,  well  arranged  for  the  comfort  and  enjoy- 
ment of  the  traveller.  This  town  was  granted,  July  6, 
1763,  to  Matthew,  James,  and  Andrew  Thornton,  and 
others.  It  was  incorporated  November  8,  1781.  It  was 
first  settled,  in   1770,  by  Benjamin  Hoit.     A  Congreg»- 


408  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

tional  church  was  organized  August  10,  1780.  At  present 
the  only  religious  society  is  the  Freewill  Baptist,  which  is 
large  and  flourishing. 

Population,  1012.  Number  of  polls,  236.  Inventory, 
$230,306.  Value  of  lands,  $126,249.  Stock  in  trade, 
$5200.  Value  of  mills,  $2000.  Money  at  interest, 
$5800.  Number  of  sheep,  1403.  Do.  neat  stock,  1310. 
Do.  horses,  187. 

Troy,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Marlbo- 
rough, east  by  Jaflfrey,  south  by  Fitzwilliam,  and  west  by 
Richmond  and  Swanzcy.  Distance  from  Concord,  54 
miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene,  12,  south-east.  This  is  a 
small  township,  possessing  a  variety  of  surface  and  soil. 
The  inhabitants  are  industrious,  and  chiefly  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  There  is  a  small  woollen  factory,  four 
pail  manufactories,  five  clothes  pins  do.,  and  one  rake  dp. 
The  aggregate  number  of  hands  employed  in  these  various 
enterprises  is  42.  There  are  six  common  schools,  one 
academy,  one  hotel,  and  three  meeting  houses,  belonging 
respectively  to  Congregational,  Baptist,  and  Unitarian  so- 
cieties. This  town  was  severed  from  Marlborough  and 
Fitzwilliam,  and  incorporated  .January  23,  1815. 

Population,  759.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  190. 
Inventory,  $236,910.  Value  of  lands,  $126,452.  Stock 
in  trade,  $7580.  Value  of  mills,  $15,200.  Money  at 
interest,  $14,258.  Number  of  sheep,  163.  Do.  neat 
stock,  642.     Do.  horses,  95. 

TuFTONBOROUGH,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north-east 
;by  Ossipee,  south-east  by  Wolfborough,  south-west  by 
Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and  north-west  by  Moultonborough. 
There  are  several  ponds  in  this  town,  whose  waters  are 


GAZEITEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  409 

discharged  into  the  lake.  The  soil  is  various  ;  the  surface 
in  some  parts  even,  in  others  exceedingly  rough.  There 
are  several  arms  of  the  lake  stretching  far  inland,  and  pre- 
senting to  the  spectator,  from  the  summits  of  the  hills,  a 
succession  of  beautiful  and  lively  views,  some  of  which  are 
unsurpassed  by  those  from  any  other  position  in  this  re- 
gion. The  inhabitants  are  industrious  and  frugal,  direct- 
ing their  attention  chiefly  to  the  care  of  their  flocks  and 
herds.  This  town  was  originally  granted  to  J.  Tufton 
Mason,  was  settled  about  1780,  and  incorporated  Decem- 
ber 17,  1795.  Among  the  early  settlers  were  Benjamin 
Bean,  Phinehas  Graves,  and  Xoseph  Peavey.  A  Congrega- 
tional church  was  organized  about  1800.  There  are  Free- 
will Baptist,  Christian,  and  Methodist  societies,  all  of  which 
have  regular  preaching. 

Population,  1305.  Number  of  polls,  277.  Inventory, 
$353,405.  Value  of  lands,  $222,766.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3884.  Value  of  mills,  $6800.  Money  at  interest, 
$15,990.  Number  of  sheep,  1137.  Do.  neat  stock,  1703. 
Do.  horses,  325. 

UxiTY,  Sullivan  county.  Bounded  north  by  Claremont 
and  Newport,  east  by  Goshen,  south  by  Lempster  and  Ac- 
worth,  and  Avest  by  Charlestown.  Area,  24,447  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  north-west ;  from  New- 
port, 9,  south.  Gilman's,  Cold,  and  Marshall's  Ponds  are 
the  largest  collections  of  water.  The  latter  is  the  source 
of  Little  Sugar  River.  Cold  Pond  is  the  head  of  Cold 
River.  From  Gilman's  Pond  flows  a  branch  of  Sugar 
River.  Perry's  Mountain  is  in  the  south-west  part  of  the 
town,  lying  partly  in  Charlestown.  This  is  an  uneven  and 
rocky  township,  and,  with  its  strong,  fertile  soil,  is  well 
adapted  to  grazing  and  the  raising  of  stock.  Unity  is  cele- 
35 


410  NEW    HAMrSHTRE    AS    IT    IS. 

brated  for  its  excellent  cattle.  There  are  numerous  locali- 
ties in  this  totvn  of  a  character  highly  interesting  to  the 
geologist  and  mineralogist.  The  rock  formation  consists  of 
gneiss  and  granite,  overlaid  by  strata  of  micaceous,  horn- 
blende, and  chlorite  slate.  The  direction  of  the  strata  is 
north  by  east  —  dip,  south,  80^.  Near  the  north-western 
corner  of  the  town  the  argillaceous  slate  rocks  occur,  over- 
lapping the  older  primary  strata.  Granular  quartz,  in 
great  abundance,  of  an  excellent  quality,  "and  easily  tritu- 
rated, is  found  here.  There  is  a  strong  chalybeate  spring 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  which  is  quite  celebrated ; 
it  is  highly  charged  with  salts  of  iron,  and  possesses  tonic 
properties.  From  the  soil  around  this  spring  copperas  has 
been  manufactured  by  leaching  and  evaporation.  Bog 
iron  ore,  in  small  quantities,  is  found  in  various  localities. 
Near  Little  Sugar  River  is  a  large  and  valuable  mine  of 
copper  and  iron  pyrites.  Its  location  is  favorable  for 
working,  and,  from  the  fact  that  the  vein  is  one  foot  nine 
inches  in  width  three  feet  from  the  surface,  and  constant- 
ly widens  as  it  descends,  it  is  believed  to  contain  almost 
an  inexhaustible  supply.  Near  this  mine  a  new  mineral 
was  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson,  and  named  by  him  chlo- 
ropliyilite.  It  occurs  in  the  sienite  rocks,  which  are  found 
embedded  in  gneiss.  Crystals  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  in 
octahedral  forms,  arc  found  disseminated  in  green  mica  ; 
also  garnets  and  radiated  actinolite.  lolite,  a  fine,  deli- 
cate, blue-colored  stone,  which  is  valued  highly  by  jewel- 
lers, and  titanium,  valued  in  the  arts  of  porcelain  painting 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  mineral  teeth,  are  found  here  in 
considerable  quantities. 

Unity  was  granted,  July  l.j,  1764,  to  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, Meshech  Weare,  and  45  others.  The  first  settlers 
were  John  Ladd,  Moses  Thurston,  Charles  Huntoon,  Esq., 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  411 

and  Joseph  Perkins.  It  was  called  Unity  on  account  of 
a  friendly  adjustment  of  a  dispute,  which  had  existed  for 
a  long  time,  between  certain  inhabitants  of  Hampstead 
and  Kingston ;  each  party  claiming  the  same  territory 
under  different  grants.  It  contains  two  meeting  houses, 
one  academy,  and  one  store.  The  religious  societies  are 
Methodists  and  Baptists. 

Population,  961.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  200. 
Common  schools,  15.  Inventory,  ^358,993.  Value  of 
lands,  $197,355.  Stock  in  trade,  $450.  Value  of  mills, 
$850.  Money  at  interest,  $23,860.  Number  of  sheep, 
5994.     Do.  neat  stock,  1225.     Do.  horses,  218. 

Wakefield,  Carroll  county.  "Bounded  north-^est  by 
Ossipee  and  Effingham,  east  by  Newfield,  Maine,  south- 
east by  Milton,  and  south-west  by  Middleton  and  Brook- 
field.  Distance  from  Concord,  50  miles,  north-east;  from 
Ossipee,  10,  south-east.  Province  Pond,  betAveen  this 
town  and  Effingham,  is  450  rods  long  and  400  wide. 
Pine  River  Pond  is  the  source  of  a  river  of  the  same 
niuue.  The  principal  branch  of  the  Piscataqua  River 
takes  its  rise  from  East  Pond,  in  the  south-eastern  part  of 
the  state.  Lovewell's  Pond,  TOO  rods  long  and  275  Avide, 
and  lying  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  received  its  name 
from  Captain  John  Lovewell,  who  surprised  and  destroyed 
a  party  of  Indians  near  its  eastern  shore.  The  soil  is 
generally  good,  and  is  well  adapted  to  grazing.  The 
surface  is  broken  and  hillv.  It  was  formerly  called  East 
Town,  and  was  incorporated  August  30,  1774.  There 
are  several  very  valuable  water  privileges  here  ;  and  along 
the  streams  there  is  considerable  interval,  which  is  very 
productive,  and  well  cultivated. 

The    Congregational    church    was    organized    in    1785. 


412  KEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT   IS. 

There  is  also  a  Freewill  Baptist  society,  which  is  large  and 
flourishing. 

Population,  1405.  Number  of  polls,  299.  Inventory, 
$309,165.  Value  of  lands,  1 177,278.  Stock  in  trade, 
$2900.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $3550."  Money  at 
interest,  $9837.  Number  of  sheep,  699.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1473.     Do.  horses,  240. 

Walpole,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by  Charles- 
town  and  Langdon,  east  by  Alstead  and  Surrey,  south  by 
Siu'rey  and  Westmoreland,  and  west  by  Westminster  and 
Rockingham,  Vermont.  Area,  24,301  acres.  Distance 
from  Concord,  60  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene,  22, 
north-west,  with  which-  it  is  connected  by  the  Cheshire 
Railroad.  This  town  is  beautifully  diversified  with  hills 
and  vales.  The  intervals,  especially  those  on  Connecticut 
River,  are  extensive,  and  afford  excellent  tillage.  The 
uplands  are  inferior  to  none  in  the  state.  Walpole  stands 
among  the  highest  in  New  Hampshire  as  an  agricultural 
town.  Cold  River  passes  through  the  north  part  of  the 
town,  and  unites  with  the  Connecticut  about  one  mile 
south  of  Bellows  Falls.  Near  these  falls  is  a  lofty  hill, 
800  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  river.  The  rock  com- 
posing this  mountain  is  plumbaginous  mica  slate  passing 
into  argillaceous  slate  on  one  side,  and  hard  mica  slate  con- 
taining fibriolite  on  the  other.  The  principal  village  is 
situated  on  a  large  plain,  about  four  miles  south  from  Bel- 
lows Falls.  The  main  street  runs  north  and  south,  and  is 
bordered  on  either  side  with  houses,  stores,  and  shops.  Its 
common,  handsomely  laid  out  and  ornamented  with  trees; 
its  broad  streets,  adorned  with  majestic  elms  and  maples ; 
its  many  elegant  and  costly  residences,  with  their  spacious 
and  beautiful   yards   and   gardens,   and   the   neatness  and 


1 


GAZETTEER    OP  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  413 

order  which  generally  prevail,  together  with  the  picturesque 
beauty  of  the  surrounding  country,  render  it  one  of  the 
most  delightful  villages  in  New  Hampshire.  This  town  is 
distinguished  for  its  excellent  schools,  and  its  valuable 
efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  education.  It  has  within 
a  few  years  adopted  the  Somersworth  Act,  and  has  erected 
a  large,  convenient,  and  handsome  building  for  a  high 
school.  The  school  fund  is  $1577  50.  In  the  village 
are  seven  stores,  one  hotel,  three  meeting  houses,  —  one 
Unitarian,  one  Congregational,  and  one  Methodist  —  and 
about  a  mile  south- east  from  the  village  is  a  meeting 
house  owned  by  the  Universalist  society.  There  are  two 
shoe  manufactories,  Avith  a  capital  of  iftTTOO,  furnishin£ 
employment  for  15  hands  ;  one  shirt  manufactory,  where 
about  250  hands  are  engaged ;  one  carriage  factory, 
employing  12  hands,  besides  some  12  or  15  other  shops 
for  various  purposes.  At  the  bridge  which  crosses  the 
river  near  this  place,  first  erected  in  1785,  is  a  most  sub- 
lime and  interesting  view.  The  river  is  confined  in  a 
narrow  channel  between  steep  roclcs,  and  for  nearly  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  is  forced  onward  with  great  impetuosity,  and 
loud,  deep  roaring.  The  fall  is  in  no  place  perpendicular, 
the  waters  falling  42  feet  in  the  distance  of  160  rods. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  falls  is  a  canal,  with  nine  locks. 
Around  the  falls  is  an  interesting  locality  of  minerals. 
The  almost  incredible  effects  of  the  current  of  the  river  at 
this  place  afford  striking  and  beautiful  illustrations  of  the 
science  of  geology.  A  channel  has  been  worn  into  a  solid 
rock,  or  bed  of  granite,  to  a  depth  of  10  or  15  feet;  and 
this  was  in  all  probability  effected  while  the  water  was 
pouring  over  the  precipitous  hillsides  south  of  the  present 
bed,  and  before  the  rocks  which  form  the  present  cataract 
had  ever  been  sprinkled  by  the  foam  of  the  dashing  waves. 
35* 


414  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Here  the  effects  of  the  current  upon  the  rocks  ai'e  still 
more  wonderful.  Numerous  holes  are  bored  perpendicu- 
larly into  them  with  all  the  symmetry  and  smoothness  of 
the  inner  surface  of  a  porcelain  jar,  some  of  which  are 
capable  of  holding  several  barrels  of  water ;  and  one  is  18 
feet  deep.  All  these  pot  holes  lie  high  and  dry  above  the 
ordinary  height  of  water,  and  are  only  reached  by  high 
floods  or  freshets.  Indian  relics  of  various  kinds  are 
found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  falls,  and  upon  the  rocks  are 
chiselled  portraits  of  savages,  variously  ornamented.  Near 
this  place  are  the  Abenaqui  Springs,  whose  waters  possess 
remarkable  medicinal  properties.  They  are  highly  tonic, 
and  efficacious  in  scrofulous  and  nearly  all  cutaneous 
affections.  These  springs  were  formerly  visited  by  the 
various  tribes  of  Indians  who  dwelt  in  this  region,  and  are 
named  after  the  Abenaqui,  or  St.  Francis  Indians.  From 
a  chemical  analysis,  one  gallon  of  this  water  was  found 
to  contain  13.34  grains  of  salts,  which  were  decomposed 
into  crenate  of  iron  7.10,  crenate  of  lime  4.11,  chloride  of 
sodium,  sulphates  of  soda,  and  lime,  and  silica  2.13. 

At  the  base  of  Fall  Mountain,  and  near  the  springs,  is 
the  Fall  Mountain  Hotel,  located  in  a  beautifully  romantic 
and  retired  spot,  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers,  inva- 
lids, and  persons  of  leisure.  From  the  hotel  a  path  leads 
directly  to  Table  Eock,  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
which  commands  an  extensive  and  delightful  view  of  the 
valley  of  the  Connecticut.  About  two  miles  south  of  Bel- 
lows Falls  is  a  cemeteiy,  beautifully  situated  in  a  rural  and 
quiet  spot.  Within  these  grounds  a  large  marble  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of  Colonel  Benjamin 
Bellows  —  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Walpolc  — 
by  his  numerous  descendants. 

Drewsvillc,  a  very  pleasant  village,  is  situated  on  Cold 


•  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  415 

Kiver,  and  contains  an  Episcopal  church,  several  handsome 
residences,  two  stores,  and  several  manufacturing  establish- 
ments. 

During  the  first  years  of  its  settlement,  Walpole  was 
the  scene  of  many  skirmishes  with  the  Canadians  and 
Indians.  In  the  spring  of  1755,  an  Indian,  named  Philip 
by  the  whites,  who  had  acquired  the  English  language 
sufficiently  for  conversation,  came  into  the  town  of  Wal- 
pole, and  visited  the  house  of  one  Mr.  Kilburn,  pretending 
that  he  was  on  a  hunting  excursion,  and  in  want  of  pro- 
visions. He  was  kindly  received,  and  furnished  with  every 
necessary,  such  as  flints,  flour,  &c.  Soon  after  he  left, 
however,  it  was  ascertained  that  he  had  visited  nearly  all 
the  settlements  on  Connectiicut  River  about  the  same  time, 
and  with  the  same  plausible  errand.  Kilburn  had  already 
learned  something  of  Indian  finesse  and  strategy,  and  at 
once  suspected,  as  it  afterwards  proved,  that  Philip  was  a 
wolf  in  sheep's  clothing.  Not  long  after  this  intelligence 
was  sent  by  General  Shirley,  through  a  friendly  Indian,  to 
all  the  forts,  that  four  or  five  hundred  Indians  were  collected 
in  Canada,  whose  designs  were  to  destroy  all  the  white 
population  on  Connecticut  River.  The  reception  of  such 
news  threw  a  gloom  over  the  weak  and  defenceless  settle- 
ments. What  could  they  do  ?  To  desert  their  homes, 
their  cattle,  and  crops  would  be  to  give  up  all  to  the 
destruction  of  the  Canadian  savages.  Accustomed  to  all 
the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  frontier  life,  they  boldly 
resolved  to  defend  themselves  and  their  property,  or  die  on 
their  own  thresliolds.  Kilburn  and  his  men  now  strength- 
ened tlieir  position  with  such  fortifications  as  their  rude 
implements  and  pressing  circumstances  would  allow,  hastily 
surrounding  their  dwellings  with  a  palisade  of  stakes 
driven  into  the  ground.     Colonel  Benjamin  Bellows  had 


416  NEW    HAMTPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS.        * 

at  this  time  about  30  men  under  his  command  at  the 
fort,  which  was  about  half  a  mile  south  from  Kilburn's 
house  ;  but  this  could  be  no  protection  to  him  while  attend- 
ing to  his  cattle,  crops,  &c.  The  enemy  were  now  daily 
expected,  and  the  little  band  awaited  their  appearance  with 
fearful  anxiety. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  1755,  as  Kilburn  and  his  son 
John,  a  youth  18  years  of  age,  were  returning  home  from 
work,  in  company  with  a  man  named  Peak  and  his  son, 
they  discovered  the  "  red  legs  of  the  Indians  among  the 
alders  as  thick  as  grasshoppers."  They  instantly  hastened 
home,  fastened  the  door,  and  made  preparations  for  a  desper- 
ate resistance.  Besides  the  four  men,  there  were  in  the  house 
Kilburn's  wife  and  daughter  Hitty,  who  greatly  assisted 
and  encouraged  the  men  in  their  efforts  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy,  and  to  provide  means  of  defence.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  Indians  were  seen  crawling  up  the  bank 
east  of  the  house,  and  as  they  crossed  a  footpath  one  by 
one,  197  were  counted.  About  the  same  number  remained 
in  ambush  near  the  mouth  of  Cold  Iliver.  The  Indians, 
learning  that  Colonel  Bellows,  with  his  men,  was  at  work 
at  his  mill  about  a  mile  distant,  decided  that  it  would  be 
best  to  waylay  and  destroy  them  before  attacking  Kilburn. 
Colonel  Bellows  and  his  party,  about  30  in  number, 
were  returning  homewards,  each  with  a  bag  of  meal  on  his 
back,  when,  on  a  sudden,  their  dogs  began  to  growl  and 
show  signs  of  uneasiness.  Bellows  well  understood  the 
language  of  the  dogs,  and  immediately  took  measures  to 
thwart  the  plans  of  the  Indians.  He  ordered  his  men  to 
lay  aside  the  meal,  advance  to  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
crawl  carefully  up  the  bank,  spring  upon  their  feet,  give 
a  single  Avhoop,  and  then  instantly  drop  into  the  fern. 
This  manoeuvre  had  the  desired  effect ;  for,  as  soon  as  the 


■GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMP3HI11E.  417 

whoop  was  given,  the  savages  arose  from  their  ambush  in  a 
semicircle  around  the  path  Bellows  was  pursuing.  This 
gave  his  men  "  a  fine  chance  for  a  shot,"  which  they  at 
once  improved.  The  first  fire  was  so  well  directed  that  the 
Indians,  panic-struck,  darted  into  the  bushes  without  dis- 
charging a  gun.  Bellows,  seeing  that  their  numbers  were 
too  great  to  risk  an  engagement,  ordered  his  men  to  file  off' 
to  the  south,  and  make  for  the  fort.  The  Indians  now  re- 
turned to  Kilburn's  house,  where  the  same  Philip,  to 
whom  we  have  before  alluded,  came  forward,  and  shelter- 
ing himself  behind  a  tree,  called  out  to  the  inmates  to  sur- 
render. "  Old  John,  young  John,"  said  he,  "  come  out 
here,  tre  give  you  good  quarter."  ''Quarter!''''  vocifer- 
ated Kilburn,  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  which  sent  a  chill 
of  terror  through  every  Indian's  breast,  and  reverber- 
ated among  the  hills  and  valleys  ;  '•'  you  black  rascals,  be- 
gone, or  we'll  quarter  you !  "  Philip  returned  to  his  com- 
panions ;  and,  after  a  short  consultation,  the  war  whoop 
commenced.  Kilburn  got  the  first  fire  before  the  smoke 
of  the  Indian's  guns  obstructed  his  aim,  and  Avas  confident 
he  saw  an  Indian  fall,  who,  from  his  extraordinary  size 
and  other  appearances,  must  have  been  Philip.  The  In- 
dians then  rushed  forward,  bent  on  the  utter  destruction  of 
the  house  and  its  inmates  ;  and  probably  not  less  than  400 
bullets  were  lodged  in  its  roof  and  sides  at  the  first  fire. 
"The  roof  was  a  perfect  riddle  sieve."  Some  of  them 
fell  to  butchering  the  cattle,  others  were  busily  employed 
in  destroying  the  hay,  grain,  &c.,  while  a  shower  of  bullets 
was  incessantly  falling  upon  the  house.  Meanwhile  Kil- 
burn and  his  men  were  by  no  means  idle.  They  had 
poured  their  powder  into  hats  for  convenience  in  loading 
their  guns  quickly,  and  every  thing  was  in  readiness  for  ac- 
tive defence.     There  Avere  several  guns  in   the  house,  and 


418  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

these  were  kept  hot  by  incessant  firing  ;  and  as  they  had 
no  ammunition  to  spare,  each  one  took  special  care  that  every 
bullet  should  tell  with  fatal  effect  upon  the  foe.  The 
women  assisted  in  loading  the  guns  ;  and  when  their  stock 
of  lead  was  exhausted,  they  had  the  forethought  to  suspend 
blankets  in  the  roof  of  the  house  to  catch  the  bullets  of 
the  enemy ;  and  these  were  immediately  run  into  new  bul- 
lets, and  sent  back  to  the  original  owners.  Several  at- 
tempts were  made  to  burst  open  the  doors,  but  the  deadly 
fire  from  within  compelled  the  savages  to  desist  from  this 
undertaking.  The  Indians,  notwithstanding  their  numbers, 
sheltered  themselves  most  of  the  time  behind  trees  and 
stumps,  thus  showing  their  dread  of  Kilburn's  musketry. 
During  the  whole  afternoon  a  continual  firing  was  kept  up. 
About  sunset  the  Indians  began  to  disappear,  and  as  the 
sun  sank  behind  the  Avestern  hills,  the  sound  of  the  guns 
and  the  cry  of  the  war  whoop  died  away  in  the  distance. 

The  result  of  this  conflict  proved  an  effectual  check  to 
the  expedition  of  the  Indians.  They  immediately  returned 
to  Canada  ;  and  it  is  within  the  bounds  of  reason  to  conclude 
that  the  heroic  defence  of  Kilburn  was  the  means  of  sav- 
ing the  other  settlements  from  the  horrors  of  an  Indian 
devastation. 

"Walpole  was  granted  by  the  government  of  New  Hamp- 
sliire,  February  16, 1752,  to  Colonel  Benjamin  Bellows  and 
61  others.  It  was  first  settled  in  1749  by  John  Kilburn 
and  his  family.  Colonel  Bellows  settled  here  in  1751. 
The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1761. 

Population,  2034.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  435. 
Inventory,  $5986,836.  Value  of  lands,  |609,278.  Stock  in 
trade,  $17,430.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $16,500. 
Moncv  at  interest,  fl29,347.  Shares  in  corporations, 
$28,900.  Number  of  sheep,  12,771.  Do.  neat  stock, 
1538.     Do.  horses,  370. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  419 

Warner,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north  by  Sut- 
ton, Wilmot,  and  Salisbury,  cast  by  Boscawen,  south  by 
Hopkinton  and  Henniker,  and  west  by  Bradford  and  Sut- 
ton. Area,  31,851  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  17 
miles,  by  a  branch  of  the  Merrimack  and  Connecticut  Riv- 
er Railroad.  It  is  watered  by  Warner  River,  a  pleasant 
stream,  which  takes  its  rise  among  the  mountains  in  Suna- 
pee,  affording  many  valuable  mill  privileges.  There  are 
four  ponds  —  Tom,  Bear,  Bagley,  and  Pleasant.  The 
latter,  whose  w^aters  are  deep,  clear,  and  cold,  has  no  visi- 
ble outlet  or  inlet,  though  its  banks  are  overflowed  in  the 
driest  season.  The  surface  is  broken  ;  the  soil  is  excellent. 
The  rocks  in  this  town  are  gneiss  and  mica  slate,  the  latter 
containing  beds  of  talcose  rock  and  limestone.  The  gneiss 
contains  very  finely  colored  pyrope  garnets.  The  quarry  of 
talcose  rock,  or  soapstone,  is  large  and  valuable.  There 
are  several  peat  bogs  here,  one  of  which  contains  22  acres, 
and  is  25  feet  deep.  Sticks  marked  with  beavers'  teeth 
have  been  dug  out  of  this  bog  from  various  depths,  show- 
ing that  this  spot  must  have  been  an  immense  beaver  dam. 

Kearsarge  Mountain,  a  lofty  elevation,  is  mostly  situated 
within  the  limits  of  the  gore  now  forming  a  part  of  War- 
ner. It  is  composed  of  mica  slate  rocks,  much  corroded 
and  deeply  furrowed  by  drift  striae.  Its  sides  are  covered 
Avith  deep  forests.     Its  summit  is  naked  rock. 

This  town  was  granted,  in  1735,  by  the  government  of 
Massachusetts,  to  Deacon  Thomas  Stevens  and  62  oth- 
ers, under  the  name  of  Number  One.  It  was  next  called 
New  Amesbury.  It  was  afterAvards  regranted  to  62  per- 
sons, by  the  jNIasonian  proprietors,  between  whom  and  the 
former  grantees  controversies  arose  w^hich  were  not  set- 
tled until  1773.  It  was  incorporated  September  3,  1774, 
under  its  present  name.     It  was  first   settled  in  1762,  by 


42C^  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

David  Annis  and  his  son-in-law,  Reuben  Kimball.  The 
Congregational  church  was  organized  February  6,  1772. 
There  has  also  been  a  Freewill  Baptist  society  here  for 
several  years.  The  village  of  Warner  is  pleasantly  located 
on  a  plain,  surrounded  by  hills,  and  is  a  flourishing  place. 
The  railroad  passes  a  few  rods  in  the  rear  of  the  principal 
street. 

The  Warner  Bank  has  a  capital  of  ^50,000. 

Population,  2038.  Number  of  polls,  465,  Inventory, 
$604,010.  Value  of  lands,  $334,803.  Stock  in  trade, 
$14,780.  Value  of  mills,  $5500.  Money  at  interest, 
$47,360.  Shares  in  corporations,  $28,638.  Number  of 
sheep,  4048.     Do.  neat  stock,  2000.     Do.  horses,  256. 

Warren,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Benton 
and  Woodstock,  east  by  Woodstock  and  Ellsworth,  south 
by  Wentworth,  and  west  by  Piermont.  Area,  27,720  acres. 
Distance  from  Concord,  65  miles,  north-west ;  from  Haver- 
hill, 14,  south-east.  This  town  is  watered  by  Baker's  Riv- 
er, which  runs  in  a  southerly  direction  nearly  through  its 
centre.  In  the  south-east  part  the  surface  is  mountainous. 
The  other  portions,  though  uneven,  are  generally  easily 
cultivated.  The  soil  is  strong  and  deep,-  and  well  suited  to 
mowing  and  pasturage.  There  are  several  valuable  beds  of 
copper  and  tin  ore,  besides  galena  and  iron  in  considerable 
quantities.  Tremolite,  black  blende,  and  crystallized  epi- 
dote  are  found  in  various  localities.  A  large  portion  of 
the  town  is  woodland.  Maple  sugar  in  considerable  quan- 
tities is  made  here.  Warren  was  incorporated  July  14, 
1763.     The  only  religious  society  is  the  Methodist. 

Population,  872.  Number  of  polls,  243.  Inventory, 
$204,866.  Value  of  lands,  $96,928.  Stock  in  trade, 
$3700.     Value   of    mills,   $2220.      Money   at    interest. 


1 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  421 

),675.     Number  of  sheep,  1437.     Do.  neat  stock,  985. 
Do.  horses,  248. 

Washington,  SulHvan  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Goshen,  east  by  Bradford  and  Windsor,  south  by  Stod- 
dard, and  west  by  Marlow  and  Lempster.  Area,  30,765 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  35  miles,  west ;  from  New- 
port, 16,  south-east.  This  is  a  hilly,  but  not  mountainous 
town.  The  soil  is  deep  and  moist,  affording  excellent 
mowing  and  pasturage.  Clay  is  abundant,  and  peat  is 
plenty  in  the  swamps  and  low  grounds.  This  town  is  re- 
markable for  its  numerous  ponds,  of  which  there  are  21 ; 
most  of  them  are  well  supplied  with  fish.  It  also  abounds 
with  springs  and  rivulets,  upon  some  of  which  are  valuable 
mill  privileges.  The  village  is  pleasantly  situated.  Tubbs's 
Union  Academy  is  a  flourishing  institution,  and  has  a  fund 
of  $1500.  There  are  in  tliis  town  four  meeting  houses  — 
one  Baptist,  one  Congregational,  one  Universalist,  and  one 
Chi'istian.  There  are  also  four  stores,  one  hotel,  one  card- 
board manufactory,  two  washboard  factories,  two  bobbin 
do.,  and  one  woollen  do. 

Lovewell's  Mountain,  lying  in  the  southerly  part  of  the 
town,  received  its  name  from  Captain  Lovewell,  who  was 
accustomed  to  ascend  it  for  the  piu'pose  of  discovering  the 
wigwams  of  the  Indians,  and  who,  on  one  occasion,  killed 
seven  Indians  near  its  summit. 

Washington  was  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors  to 
Reuben  Kidder,  Esq.,  under  whom  it  was  settled  in  1768. 
From  its  settlement  it  was  called  Camden  until  December 
13,  1776,  when  it  was  incorporated  under  its  present 
name.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized  May  18, 
1780. 

Population,  1054.  Legal  voters  in  1854,  280.  Com- 
36 


4£2  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

mon  schools,  11.  Inventory,  $356,746.  Value  of  lands, 
$209,768.  Stock  in  trade,  $8152.  Value  of  mills  and 
factories,  $7030.  Money  at  interest,  $31,776.  Number 
of  sheep,  1973.     Do.  neat  stock,  1177.     Do.  horses,  185. 

Water%t[lle,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  un- 
granted  lands,  east  by  Albany,  south  by  Sandwich,  and 
west  by  Thornton.  Distance  from  Concord,  60  miles, 
north.  This  is  a  wild,  rocky,  and  mountainous  township, 
formerly  known  as  Gillis  and  Foss  Grant.  The  principal 
streams  are  Mad  and  Swift  Rivers,  which  swarm  with 
trout.  The  scenery  here  in  many  parts  is  grand  and  sub- 
lime. It  is  mostly  a  dense  forest  of  pine  hemlock  and 
gigantic  maple.     It  was  incorporated  June  29,  1819. 

Population,  40.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  12. 
Inventory,  $22,926.  Value  of  lands,  $18,930.  Number 
of  sheep,  50.     Do.  neat  stock,  47.     Do.  horses,  10. 

Weare,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by  Hen- 
niker  and  Hopkinton,  east  by  Dunbarton  and  Goffstown, 
south  by  New  Boston,  and  west  by  Francestown  and  Deer- 
ing.  Area,  33,648  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  14 
miles,  south-west ;  from  Amherst,  17,  north.  This  is  a 
large,  populous,  and  thriving  town,  with  abundance  of 
water  power  well  occupied.  The  stream  is  the  north-west 
branch  of  the  Piscataquog.  There  are  three  ponds  of 
considerable  size.  The  surface  is  broken,  but  not  moun- 
tainous.^ The  soil  of  the  uplands  is  strong  and  deep.  The 
land  is  generally  cultivated  with  care ;  and  the  spirit  of 
enterprise,  which  imparts  energy  to  the  numerous  depart- 
ments of  business  followed  here,  manifests  itself  in  no 
slight  degree  among  the  farmers. 

There  are  in  this  town  seven  religious   societies,  viz., 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  42S 

two  Freewill  Baptist,  two  Baptist,  two  Quakers,  and  one 
Universalist. 

There  are  also  two  hotels,  six  stores,  two  tanneries,  five 
sawmills,  one  gristmill,  one  Avoollen  factory,  where  30  hands 
are  employed;  one  cotton  do.,  employing  30  hands;  one 
iron  foundcry ;  six  blacksmiths'  shops ;  one  hay  cutter 
manufactory,  yearly  business  ^10,000  ;  one  hollow  augers 
and  screw  plates  do.  ;  one  bobbin  factory  ;  and  one  sash, 
door,  and  blind  do.,  besides  several  other  small  factories 
and  shops.  The  whole  town  presents  a  picture  of  activity 
and  industry  which  betokens  wealth  and  prosperity. 

Weare  was  granted  by  the  Masonian  proprietors  to  Ich- 
abod  Robie  and  others  September  20, 1749.  It  was  incor- 
porated September  21,  1764,  and  received  its  name  in 
honor  of  Hon.  Meshech  Weare. 

Population,  2436.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
660.  Common  schools,  24.  Academy,  1.  Inventory, 
$718,218.  Value  of  lands,  $421,231.  Stock  in  trade, 
$28,084.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $14,654.  Money 
at  interest,  $39,846.  Number  of  sheep,  3680.  Do.  neat 
stock,  2225.     Do.  horses,  332. 

Wentwortii,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  "War- 
ren, east  by  Rumney,  south  by  Dorchester,  and  west  by 
Orford.  Area,  23,040  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  67 
miles,  north-west,  by  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal 
Railroad,  which  passes  through  the  town  in  direction 
north-west  and  south-east.  It  is  connected  with  Haverhill 
and  Plymouth  by  the  same  road.  It  is  situated  on  Baker's 
River,  on  which  is  a  fall  of  twenty  feet,  affording  excellent 
water  privileges.  The  village  is  pleasantly  situated  near 
the  falls,  and  is  a  thriving  and  prosperous  place.  The  sur- 
face is  moderately  uneven,  in  some  parts  quite  elevated, 


424  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

which,  with  its  strong  and  fertile  soil,  renders  it  an  excel- 
lent grazing  town.  A  portion  of  Carr's  Mountain  lies  in 
the  east  part  of  the  town,  from  which  a  fine  species  of 
granite  is  quarried  in  great  abundance.  In  the  western 
part  of  the  town  is  a  part  of  INIount  Cuba,  which  contains 
inexhaustible  quantities  of  the  best  limestone.  Iron  ore  is 
found  in  various  localities.  Wentworth  was  granted  No- 
vember 1,  1766,  to  John  Page,  Esq.,  and  others.  It  re- 
ceived its  name  from  Governor  Benning  Wentworth.  The 
first  settlement  commenced  a  few  years  prior  to  the  revo- 
lutionary war.  The  religious  societies  are  the  Congrega- 
tional, Freewill  Baptist,  and  Methodist. 

Population,  1197.  Number  of  polls,  262.  Inventory, 
$280,589.  Value  of  lands,  $152,830.  Stock  in  trade, 
$67-40.  Value  of  mills,  $4510.  Money  at  interest, 
$19,400.  Number  of  sheep,  1434.  Do.  neat  stock,  1236. 
Do.  horses,  139. 

Westmoreland,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Walpole,  east  by  Surrey  and  Keene,  south  by  Chesterfield, 
and  west  by  Putney,  Vermont.  Area,  22,426  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  65  miles,  south-west ;  from  Keene, 
10,  west,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  the  Cheshire  Rail- 
road. This  is  a  very  excellent  farming  town.  It  is 
watered  by  numerous  small  streams,  which  are  discharged 
into  the  Connecticut.  That  flowing  from  SpafFord's  Lake, 
in  Chesterfield,  is  the  largest,  and  affords  the  principal 
water  power.  The  surface  is  less  varied  by  hills,  valleys, 
and  mountains  than  the  neighboring  towns.  There  is  con- 
siderable fine  interval,  and  the  uplands  are  generally  fer- 
tile and  easily  cultivated.  Fluor  spar,  crystals  of  quartz, 
Bulphuret  of  molybdena,  deposits  of  nodular  bog  manga- 
nese, felspar,  and  milk  quartz  are  found  in  various  locali- 
ties.    The  rock  is  gneiss,  granite,  and  mica  slate. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  4426 

There  are  in  this  town  three  stores,  one  hotel,  one  large 
carriage  factory,  where  an  extensive  business  is  carried  on, 
thirteen  common  schools,  and  four  meeting  houses,  viz., 
two  Congregational,  one  Methodist,  and  one  Christian. 

Westmoreland  was  first  granted  by  Massachusetts  under 
the  name  of  Numbej^  Two.  It  was  afterwards  called  Great 
Meadow.  It  was  incorporated  by  the  government  of  New 
Hampshire,  February  11,  1752,  imder  its  present  name. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1741.  The  early  settlers 
were  frequently  annoyed  by  incursions  of  the  Indians,  but 
no  great  injury,  save  in  one  or  two  instances,  was  com- 
mitted. In  one  of  their  plundering  expeditions  they  killed 
William  Fhips,  and  in  another  carried  Nehemiah  How 
captive  to  Canada,  where  he  died. 

Population,  1677.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
300.  Inventory,  $570,458.  Value  of  lands,  $.329,806. 
Stock  in  trade,  $7954.  Value  of  mills,  $1850.  Money 
at  interest,  $86,154.  Number  of  sheep,  1940.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1788.     Do.  horses,  301. 

WiiiTEFiELD,  Coos  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lancas- 
ter, east  by  Jefferson,  south  by  Carroll  and  Bethlehem,  and 
west  by  Dalton.  Area,  20,800  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 120  miles,  north ;  from  Lancaster,  12,  south-east. 
The  soil  is  naturally  good,  like  all  the  upland  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Lancaster.  Several  farms  in  this  town  are  highly 
cultivated,  and  are  very  productive.  In  the  north  part  of 
the  town  low  spruce  swamps  abound.  There  is  a  large 
quantity  of  excellent  pine  timber  land  here,  besides  exten- 
sive tracts  of  maple  and  beech.  John's  River  is  the  prin- 
cipal stream.  Blake's,  Long,  Found,  and  Little  River 
Ponds  are  the  chief  collections  of  water.  Whitefield  was 
36* 


426  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

ihcorporated  July  4,  1774.     It  was  first  settled  by  Major 
Burns. 

Population,  857.  Number  of  polls,  233.  Inventory, 
$223,091.  Value  of  lands,  $109,966.  Stock  in  trade, 
$11,075.  Value  of  mills,  $6825.  Money  at  interest, 
$14,950.  Number  of  sheep,  1264.  Do.  neat  stock,  909. 
Do.  horses,  176. 

WiLMOT,  Merrimack  county.  Bounded  north-east  by 
Danbury  and  Hill,  east  by  Andover,  south  by  Warner  and 
Sutton,  south-west  by  New  London,  and  north-west  by 
Springfield.  Area,  15,000  acres.  Distance  from  Concord, 
30  miles,  north-west.  The  streams  which  form  the  Black- 
water  River  take  their  rise  within  the  limits  of  this  town, 
some  of  which  afibrd  good  water  privileges.  The  surface 
is  rough  and  uneven.  Some  parts  of  the  town  are  cold 
and  rocky,  while  others  afi'ord  some  good  farms.  The 
summit  of  Kearsarge  Mountain  forms  its  southern  boun- 
dary. Beryls  of  a  large  size,  felspar  of  an  excellent  qual- 
ity, and  crystals  of  mica  are  found  here.  The  felspar  found 
in  this  place  has  been  successfully  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  mineral  teeth,  which  are  said  to  be  of  the  finest  and 
most  durable  quality. 

There  are  in  this  town  a  small  woollen  factory,  in  which 
eight  hands  are  employed,  and  a  large  tannery,  in  which 
ten  hands  are  employed.  There  are  also  three  stores,  thir- 
teen common  schools,  and  three  meeting  houses,  which 
are  occupied  by  Congregational,  Baptist,  Freewill  Baptist, 
Methodist,  and  Universalist  societies. 

Wilmot  was  incorporated  June  18,  1807.  It  received 
its  name  in  honor  of  Dr.  Wilmot,  who,  for  a  time,  enjoyed 
great  celebrity  as  the  supposed  author  of  the  famous  Junius 
letters. 


GAZETTEEU    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  427 

■  Population,  1272.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
326.  Inventory,  $264,191.  Value  of  lands,  $-131,049. 
Stock  in  trade,  $6490.  Value  of  mills  and  factories, 
$3050.  Number  of  sheep,  4156.  Do.  neat  stock,  1311. 
Do.  horses,  192. 

Wilton,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Lyndeborough,  east  by  Lyndeborough  and  Milford,  south 
by  Mason,  and  west  by  Temple.  Area,  15,280  acres.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  40  miles,  south-west ;  from  Amherst, 
9,  south-west.  The  principal  stream  is  the  Souhegan 
River.  The  surface  is  generally  uneven  and  rocky,  but 
not  mountainous.  The  soil  is  strong  and  productive,  con- 
taining a  large  proportion  of  agricultural  substance.  Good 
brick  clay  is  abundant.  There  are  several  valuable  quar- 
ries of  granite,  which  aie  extensively  wrought.  The  facil- 
ities of  this  town  for  manufacturing  are  good,  and  are  rap- 
idly being  occupied.  There  are  a  sash  and  blind  factory, 
in  which  15  hands  are  employed,  and  two  furniture  man- 
ufactories, one  employing  seven,  the  other  three  hands. 
The  Wilton  Manufactuiing  Company  make  woollen  yarn 
for  carpets  —  E.  G.  Woodman  superintendent.  Machine 
Shop  —  E.  Putnam  &  Co.  —  employ  22  hands.  There 
are  also  one  shoe  manufactory,  employing  12  hands,  one 
tannery,  one  knob  manufactory,  four  sawmills,  four  saw 
and  grist  mills,  five  stores,  and  two  hotels,  besides  14  other 
shops  where  various  kinds  of  mechanical  labor  are  carried 
on.  The  terminus  of  the  Nashua  and  Wilton  Railroad  is 
in  this  town. 

There  are  three  religious  societies  —  one  Congregational, 
one  Unitarian,  and  one  Baptist.  The  first  settlement  was 
made,  in  1738,  by  three  families  from  Danvers,  Massa- 
chusetts.    Wilton  was  incorporated  June  25,  1762^  and 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

derived  its  name  from  Wilton,  a  manufacturing  district  in 
England.  The  Congregational  church  was  organized  De- 
cember 14,  1763  ;  the  Baptist,  April  7,  1817. 

Population,  1161.  Number  of  polls,  325.  Inventory, 
$511,048.  Value  of  lands,  $321,136.  Stock  in  trade, 
$15,580.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $27,900.  Money 
at  interest,  $28,950.  Number  of  sheep,  500.  Do.  neat 
stock,  1146.     Do.  horses,  193. 

WiNCHESTiji,  Cheshire  county.  Bounded  north  by 
Chesterfield  and  Swanzey,  east  by  Swanzey  and  Richmond, 
south  by  Warwick,  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Hinsdale. 
Area,  33,534  acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  65  miles, 
south-west ;  from  Keene,  13,  south-west.  Ashuelot  River 
is  the  principal  stream,  and  affords  extensive  water  power. 
It  receives  the  waters  of  Muddy  and  Broad  Brooks,  besides 
those  of  smaller  streams.  Humphrey's  Pond,  in  the  north- 
east part,  is  300  rods  long  and  80  wide  ;  it  is  the  largest 
collection  of  water  in  the  toAvn.  The  surface  is  various. 
In  the  southerly  part  of  the  town  it  is  level ;  the  other 
portions  are  more  or  less  uneven.  The  soil  is  generally 
good.  On  either  side  of  the  Ashuelot  are  broad  tracts  of 
interval  of  rare  fertility.  There  are  two  pleasant  and 
thriving  villages  in  this  town,  both  of  which  are  situated 
on  the  Ashuelot  River,  and  are  connected  with  Keene  and 
the  Connecticut  River  by  the  Ashuelot  Railroad.  There 
arc  extensive  tracts  of  wood  and  timber  land  in  this  and 
adjacent  towns,  which  have  been  rendered  easy  of  access 
since  the  opening  of  the  Ashuelot  Railroad. 

There  are  in  this  town  two  woollen  factories,  in  one  of 
which  are  employed  40  hands,  in  the  other  15,  two  pail 
manufactories,  employing  10  hands  each,  a  friction  match 
factory,  eight  stores,  two  druggists'  shops,  two  hotels,  two 
sawmills,  and  one  linseed  oil  manufactory. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  429 

Considerable  expense  has  recently  been  made  in  con- 
structing a  canal  from  Ashuclot  River,  to  be  applied  to 
manufacturing  purposes  on  a  large  scale. 

The  capital  of  the  Winchester  Bank  is  $100,000. 

Within  the  last  few  years  the  village  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  as  well  as  that  in  the  western  part,  called  Ashuelot, 
has  grown  rapidly.  The  vast  amount  of  water  power  in 
both  villages,  and  the  readiness  and  comparatively  slight 
expense  with  which  it  may  be  applied  to  practical  pur- 
poses, render  it  highly  probable  that  at  tio  distant  period 
they  will  be  manufacturing  places  of  considerable  impor- 
tance. 

Winchester  was  first  granted  by  Massachusetts,  and  was 
named  Arlington.  It  was  granted  by  New  Hampshire,  July 
2,  1753,  to  Josiah  Willard  and  others,  who  settled  here  in 
1732.  During  the  wars  with  the  Indians  which  followed, 
the  meeting  house  and  all  the  private  buildings  of  the 
settlement  were  burned  by  the  enemy.  In  the  summer  of 
1756  Josiah  Foster  and  his  family  were  taken  captives  by 
the  Indians.  Some  efforts  were  made  to  locate  Dartmouth 
College  in  this  town,  but,  owing  to  the  opposition  of  Josiah 
Willard,  the  principal  landholder,  they  proved  unavailing. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  November 
12,  1736.  There  are  also  Methodist  and  Univcrsalist 
societies. 

Population,  3296.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
600.  Common  schools,  21.  Inventory,  $716,536.  Value 
of  lands,  $411,362.  Stock  in  trade,  $20,125.  Value  of 
mills  and  factories,  $25,950.  Money  at  interest,  $13,423. 
"Shares  in  banks,  &c.,  $70,500.  Number  of  sheep,  1037. 
Do.  neat  stock,  1583.     Do.  horses,  305. 

Windham,   Rockingham  county.      Bounded  north  by 


430  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Londonderry  and  Derry,  east  by  Salem,  south  by  Pelham, 
and  west  by  Hudson  and  Londonderry.  Area,  15,744 
acres.  Distance  from  Concord,  34  miles,  south ;  from 
Exeter,  30,  south-west.  Policy,  Cabot's,  Golden,  and 
Mitchell's  Ponds  are  the  principal  collections  of  water. 
Beaver  River  is  the  principal  stream,  upon  which  is  con- 
siderable meadow  land.     The  soil  is  generally  good. 

There  are  two  stores  ;  one  woollen  factory,  where  frock- 
ing  is  made  —  capital,  ,f  5000  —  number  of  hands,  8  ;  one 
mattress  manufactory  —  capital,  $4500  —  number  of  hands, 
4  ;  one  hotel  ;  and  seven  common  schools.  School  dis- 
trict number  two  has  a  fund  of  $1000.  There  is  one  re- 
ligious society,  —  the  Presbyterian,  —  which  is  the  only 
church  ever  organized  in  the  town.  It  was  formed  in 
1747. 

On  one  of  the  most  lofty  eminences  in  town,  seated  upon 
the  out-cropping  surface  of  a  ledge  of  mica  slate,  is  an 
immense  granite  boulder,  20  feet  in  height,  its  sides 
measuring  16  or  18  feet.  In  appearance  it  is  erratic,  there 
being  no  rocks  of  a  similar  kind  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  rock  upon  M^hich  it  rests  seems  to  have  been  fractured 
or  crushed  by  the  contact  or  pressure  of  the  incumbent 
mass.  In  its  under  side  is  a  cavity,  or  basin,  the  sides  of 
which  are  perfectly  smooth,  showing  that  it  must  have 
been  worn  by  the  grinding  action  of  pebbles  and  rapidly 
flowing  water,  and  also  that  the  present  position  of  the 
boulder  is  exactly  the  reverse  of  what  it  once  was.  Wind- 
ham was  formerly  a  part  of  Londonderry,  from  which  it 
was  severed,  and  incorporated  February  25,  1739. 

Population,  818.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854, 
203.  Inventory,  $274,058.  Value  of  lands,  $199,828. 
Stock  in  trade,  $2525.  Value  of  mills,  $3300.  Money 
at  interest,  $3775.  Number  of  sheep,  355.  Do.  neat 
stock,  711.     Do.  horses,  142. 


GAZETTEER   OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  431 

Windsor,  Hillsborough  county.  Bounded  north-east 
and  east  by  Hillsborough,  south  by  Antrim,  west  by  Stod- 
dard, and  north-M'est  by  Washington.  Area,  5335  aci*es. 
Distance  from  Concord,  30  miles,  south-west;  from  Am- 
herst, 27,  north-west.  Its  surface  is  varied  with  hills  and 
vales.  The  soil  is  strong,  and  well  adapted  to  grazing. 
Black  Pond  is  the  principal  collection  of  water.  It  was 
formerly  called  Campbell's  Gore,  and  was  incorporated 
under  its  present  name  in  November,  1798. 

Population,  172.  Number  of  polls,  34.  Inventory, 
$68,329.  Value  of  lands,  $45,293.  :Money  at  interest, 
$6480.  Number  of  sheep,  283.  Do.  neat  stock,  224. 
Do.  horses,  46. 

WoLFBOROUGH,  Carroll  county.  Bounded  north-cast  by 
Ossipee,  south-east  by  Brookfield  and  New  Durham,  south- 
west by  Alton  and  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and  north-west  by 
Tuftonborough.  Area,  28,600  acres.  Distance  from  Con- 
cord, 45  miles,  north-east ;  from  Ossipee,  8,  south-west. 
The  face  of  the  country  is  generally  level ;  the  soil  is 
somewhat  rocky,  but  strong  and  productive.  Smith's 
Pond,  six  miles  in  length,  is  situated  in  the  east  part  of 
the  town,  and  is  the  source  of  a  river  of  the  same  name. 
There  are  also  four  other  ponds  of  considerable  size  — 
Crooked,  Rust's,  Barton's,  and  Sargent's.  At  the  foot  of 
a  hill  near  one  of  these  ponds  is  a  mineral  spring,  which  is 
a  place  of  considerable  resort.  Wolfborough  is  a  good 
farming  town.  Its  mechanical  and  manufacturing  business 
is  also  considerable.  The  Lake  Bank  was  incorporated 
July  15,  1854 ;  capital,  $50,000.  Within  a  few  years 
this  town  has  become  celebrated  as  a  healthy  and  delightful 
summer  residence.  Situated  on  Lake  Winnipiseogee, 
which   touches  its    south-western   border,  while   the  lofty 


432  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

mountains  of  Ossipee  and  the  rugged  hills  of  Tufton- 
borough  rise  up  in  the  rear  like  impregnable  "walls  of  a 
gigantic  fortress,  its  whole  scenery  presents  a  view  at  once 
picturesque  and  sublime.  The  trip  across  the  lake  from 
Centre  Harbor  to  Wolfborough  Bridge,  especially  in  a 
pleasant  summer  evening,  is  truly  delightful.  At  sunset, 
when  the  evening  shadows  begin  to  fall  upon  the  distant 
mountain  tops,  presenting  their  rugged  outlines  in  bold 
relief,  and  the  stars,  gliding  into  the  firmament,  kindle  up 
their  brilliant  fires  in  the  depths  of  the  clear  blue  waters, 
the  excursion  seems  like  a  journey  to  the  Elysian  Fields. 
At  this  hour  of  the  day  the  breezes  on  the  lake  are  highly 
invigorating. 

Wolfborough  Bridge  is  a  pleasant  village,  situated  on 
two  beautiful  slopes  of  land  rising  from  a  bay  in  the  lake. 
Since  steamboats  have  plied  these  waters  it  has  grown 
quite  rapidly.  Visitors  to  the  White  Mountains  and  Fran- 
conia  now  consider  their  tour  incomplete  unless  they  spend 
at  least  one  night  here.  Accommodations  of  the  best  kind 
are  provided  for  visitors.  The  Pavilion,  a  spacious, 
elegantly  furnished,  and  well-conducted  hotel,  is  fully 
entitled  to  the  rank  of  a  first  class  house.  From  its  cupola 
and  piazzas  charming  views  of  the  lake  and  surrounding 
country  are  obtained.  The  situation  of  the  Lake  House 
commands  extensive  and  delightful  views  of  this  romantic 
region.  This  house  also  furnishes  excellent  accommoda- 
tions. Horses,  carriages,  boats,  and  attendants  are  always 
at  command  at  either  hotel.  Copple  Crown  Mountain,  five 
miles  from  the  village,  is  easily  ascended,  and  commands  a 
varied,  extensive  prospect.  The  view  from  its  summit  is 
thought  by  many  to  be  fully  equal  to  that  from  Eed  Hill. 
The  mountain  scenery  is  more  distant,  but  not  less  distinct. 
The  prospect  embraces  an  excellent  view  of  the  lake,  aud 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  431$' 

some  thirty  diiFerent  sheets  of  Nvater  in  New  Hampshire 
and  Maine  can  be  counted.  Mount  Washington,  the  Isles 
of  Shoals,  and  vessels  on  the  ocean  may  also  be  discerned. 

It  was  in  this  town  that  General  John  Wentworth  erect- 
ed a  splendid  mansion,  about  five  miles  east  of  the  bridge, 
for  a  summer  residence.  Wolfborough  Academy  has  a 
fund  of  $5000,  and  is  a  respectable  institution.  Great 
attention  is  paid  here  to  improvement  in  common  school 
training  and  instruction.  This  town  was  granted,  in  1770, 
to  General  John  AVentworth,  Mark  11.  Wentworth,  and 
others.  Among  the  first  settlers  were  Benjamin  Blake, 
James  Lucas,  Joseph  Lary,  and  Ithamar  Fullerton.  A 
Congregational  church  was  organized  October  25,  1792 ; 
at  the  same  time  a  Freewill  Baptist  society  was  formed. 
There  are  at  present  two  Congregational,  three  Freewill 
Baptist,  and  one  Methodist  societies. 

Population,  2038,  Number  of  polls,  472.  Inventory, 
$553,199.  Value  of  lands,  $319,566.  Stock  in  trade, 
$12,800.  Value  of  mills  and  factories,  $14,813.  Money 
at  interest,  $28,662.  Number  of  sheep,  1247.  Do.  neat 
stock,  2287.     Do.  horses,  376. 

Woodstock,  Grafton  county.  Bounded  north  by  Lin- 
coln, east  by  Thornton,  south  by  Thornton,  Ellsworth,  and 
Warren,  and  west  by  Warren,  Benton,  and  LandafF.  Dis- 
tance from  Concord,  62  miles,  north ;  from  Plymouth,  20, 
north.  Area,  33,359  acres.  Pemigewasset  River  passes 
through  its  eastern  section.  It  is  well  watered  by  brooks 
and  rivulets,  which  supply  the  town  with  numerous  mill 
privileges.  The  principal  ponds  are  Hubbard's,  Elbow, 
Russell's,  and  Bog.  The  surface  is  uneven,  diversified  by 
hUls,  valleys,  and  mountains.  In  many  parts  the  scenery 
is  picturesque  and  sublime.  The  brooks  swarm  with  trout, 
37 


434  N'EW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

and  afford  rich  amusement  to  the  angler  and  tourist.  On 
Moosehillock  Brook  is  a  beautiful  cascade,  where  the  water 
glides  smoothly  on  a  glassy  surface  of  rocks,  or  tumbles  in 
foaming  cataract,  a  distance  of  200  feet.  Grafton  Mineral 
Spring  is  situated  in  this  town,  near  the  road  leading  to 
Franconia.  Its  waters  are  strongly  impregnated  with  sul- 
phur and  other  mineral  substances,  and  are  in  great  repute, 
on  account  of  their  medicinal  qualities.  Near  the  base  of 
Summit  Mountain  is  a  cave,  extending  under  ground 
several  feet,  and  spacious  enough  to  hold  many  hundred 
people.  It  communicates  with  various  apartments.  Its 
sides  and  the  partition  walls  are  of  solid  granite  ;  and  from 
the  fact  that  ice,  of  the  greatest  purity,  may  be  obtained 
here  through  the  entire  warm  season,  it  is  called  the  Ice 
House.  A  large  portion  of  this  town  consists  of  extensive 
tracts  of  wood  and  timber,  including  pine,  spruce,  and 
ash.  During  the  winter  season  150  men  are  employed  by 
the  Merrimack  River  Lumbering  Company  in  cutting  and 
hauling  timber  to  the  Pemigewasset,  whence  it  is  trans- 
ported during  the  spring  freshets  to  Lowell. 

There  are  in  this  town  nine  saw,  shingle,  and  clapboard 
mills,  with  an  aggregate  capital  of  about  ,^15,000.  There 
is  also  an  extensive  tannery  here,  Avhere  20  hands  are  em- 
ployed;  capital,  $15,000.  There  are  two  meeting  houses, 
—  one  Baptist  and  one  Freewill  Baptist,  —  six  common 
schools,  and  one  store. 

Woodstock  was  granted,  September  23,  1763,  to  Eli 
Demeritt,  under  the  name  of  Peeling.  It  was  settled,  in 
1773,  by  John  Riant  and  others.  It  received  its  present 
name  in  1840. 

Population,  418.  Number  of  legal  voters  in  1854,  120. 
Inventory,  $113,950.  Value  of  lands,  .$54,006.  Do. 
mills,  $14,304.  Stock  in  trade,  $1150.  Number  of 
sheep,  271.     Do.  neat  stock,  398.     Do.   horses,  84. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  435 


COUNTIES   OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Rockingham  County.  Incorporated  in  March,  1791. 
Bounded  north  by  Strafford  county,  east  by  the  Atlantic 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua  to  the  line  of  Massa- 
chusetts, south  by  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Hillsborough 
and  Merrimack  counties.  Its  greatest  length  is  34  miles ; 
greatest  breadth,  30  miles.  There  are  38  towns  in  this 
county,  which  were  incorporated  —  two  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.,  one  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  two  in  the  reign 
of  William  and  Mary,  two  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne, 
seven  in  the  reign  of  George  I.,  thirteen  in  the  reign  of 
George  II.,  eight  in  the  reign  of  George  III,,  and  three 
by  the  government  of  New  Hampshire.  Shire  towns, 
Portsmouth  and  Exeter.  Valuation,  ^19,685,157.  Pop- 
ulation, 49,204.  Number  of  farms,  3811.  Do.  manufac- 
tories, 984.  This  county  was  named  by  Governor  Penning 
Wentworth,  in  honor  of  Charles  Watson  Went  worth.  Mar- 
quis of  Rockingham. 

Strafford  County.  Incorporated  March  16,  1791. 
Bounded  north  by  Carroll  county,  east  by  the  State  of 
Maine,  south  by  Rockingham  county,  and  west  by  Belknap 
county.  Shire  town,  Dover.  It  contains  13  towns,  one  of 
which  was  incorporated  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  two  in 
the  reign  of  George  I.,  three  in  the  reign  of  George  II., 
and  five  under  the  state  government.  Although  a  large 
portion  of  the  territory  of  this  county  was  taken  to  form 
the  counties  of  Belknap  and  Carroll,  yet  by  its  immense 
hydraulic  power,  it  makes  rapid  progress  in  population  and 
wealth,  and  loses  none  of  its  former  importance  or  influ- 
ence.    It  was  named  in  honor    of   William  Wentworth, 


4S||  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

Earl  of  StrafFord.      Valuation,  $10,237,058.     Population, 
29,364.     Farms,  1844.     Manufactories,  394. 

Belknap  County.  Incorporated  December  22,  1840. 
Bounded  north  by  Carroll  county  and  Lake  Winnipiseogee, 
east  by  Strafford  county,  south-west  by  Merrimack  county, 
and  west  by  Grafton  county.  Shire  town,  Gilford.  It 
contains  eight  towns,  two  of  which  were  incorporated  in 
the  reign  of  George  I.,  two  in  the  reign  of  George  III., 
and  fbur  under  the  state  government.  There  are  many 
beautiful  lakes  and  ponds  within  its  limits.  Its  surface  is 
uneven,  and  in  some  parts  mountainous.  The  soil  is  gen- 
erally productive.  Its  water  power  is  considerable.  The 
lakes,  mountains,  and  valleys  in  this  county  present  a  great 
variety  of  sublime  and  picturesque  scenery.  It  was  named 
in  honor  of  Dr.  Belknap,  the  historian  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. Valuation,  $5,372,199.  Population,  17,709. 
Farms,  2438.     Manufactories,  163. 

Carroll  County.  Incorporated  December  22,  1840. 
Bounded  north  by  Grafton  and  Coos  counties,  east  by  the 
State  of  Maine,  south  by  Strafford  county,  and  south-west  by 
Lake  Winnipiseogee.  Shire  town,  Ossipee.  It  contains  17 
towns,  eight  of  which  were  incorporated  during  the  reign 
of  George  III.,  and  nine  under  the  state  government.  The 
scenery  afforded  by  the  variety  of  lofty  mountains,  deep 
vales,  lakes,  and  rapid  streams,  is  beautiful.  Much  of  the 
land  is  rocky  and  mountainous,  and  although  somewhat 
cold,  is  yet  excellent  for  grazing.  Valuation,  $4,344,743. 
Population,  21,565.     Farms,  2805.     Manufactories,  135. 

Merrimack  County.  Incorporated  July  3,  1823. 
Bounded  north  by  Grafton  and  Belknap  counties,  east  by 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  487 

]^ckingham  county,  south  by  Hillsborough  county,  ari3 
west  by  Sullivan  county.  Shire  town.  Concord,  the 
capital  of  New  Hampshire.  It  contains  24  towns,  four 
of  which  were  incorporated  in  the  reign  of  George  I.,  two 
in  the  reign  of  George  II.,  seven  in  the  reign  of  George 
III.,  and  eleven  under  the  state  government.  Greatest 
length,  i36  miles  ;  greatest  breadth,  26.  Surface  uneven  ; 
soil  generally  very  fertile.  Kearsarge  is  the  highest  eleva- 
tion, being  2400  feet  above  the  sea  level.  Merrimack  River, 
the  principal  stream,  winds  through  nearly  the  middle  of  the 
county,  and  affords  a  large  amount  of  water  power.  It  was 
taken  from  Hillsborough  and  Rockingham  counties.  Val- 
uation, $14,780,293.  Population,  40,339.  Farms,  3220. 
Manufactories,  215. 

Hillsborough  County.  Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 
Bounded  north  by  Merrimack  county,  east  by  Rockingham 
county,  south  by  Massachusetts,  and  west  by  Cheshire 
county.  Shire  towns,  Amherst  and  Manchester.  It  con- 
tains 31  towns,  ten  of  which  were  incorporated  in  the 
reign  of  George  II.,  twelve  in  the  reign  of  George  III., 
and  nine  by  the  government  of  New  Hampshire.  This  is 
not  a  mountainous  region.  It  is  well  watered,  and  pos- 
sesses an  immense  water  power.  Its  facilities  for  manufac- 
turing are  excellent,  and  are  largely  improved.  It  received 
its  name  from  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  one  of  the  privy 
council  of  George  III.  Valuation,  $25,406,014.  Popu- 
lation, 57,477.     Farms,  3675.     Manufactories,  399. 

Cheshire    County.      Incorporated   March    19,    1771. 

Bounded  north  by  Sullivan  county,  east  by  Hillsborough 

county,   south  by   Massachusetts,   and  west  by  Vermont. 

Shire  town,  Keene.     Greatest  length,  31  miles;  greatest 

37* 


458  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT    IS, 

breadth,  26  miles.  It  contains  22  towns,  eight  of  which 
were  incorporated  in  the  reign  of  George  II,,  ten  in  the 
reign  of  George  III.,  and  four  under  the  government  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  surface  is  diversified  with  mountains 
and  plains.  Connecticut  River  waters  its  western  border, 
and  the  Ashuelot  passes  through  it  in  a  south-westerly  di- 
rection. Along  the  latter  river  are  extensive  plains,  pos- 
sessing various  degrees  of  fertility.  The  Grand  Monad- 
nock  is  the  highest  elevation,  being  3450  feet  above  the 
sea  level.  It  received  its  name  from  one  of  the  counties  in 
England.  Valuation,  $11,245,179.  Population,  30,143. 
Farms,  2805.     Manufactories,  3TT. 

Sullivan  County,  Incorporated  July  5,  1827. 
Bounded  north  by  Grafton  county,  east  by  Merrimack 
county,  south  by  Cheshire  county,  and  west  by  Vermont. 
Shire  town,  Newport.  It  contains  15  towns,  one  of  which 
was  incorporated  in  the  reign  of  George  II.,  nine  in  the 
reign  of  George  III.,  and  five  under  the  state  government. 
Croydon  Mountain  is  the  highest  elevation.  Along  the 
streams,  particularly  the  Connecticut,  the  soil  is  very  fer- 
tile, and  the  uplands  are  generally  productive.  Sugar  Riv- 
er affords  abundant  water  power.  It  is  well  watered  by 
numerous  small  streams,  many  of  which  afford  good  mill 
privileges,  Sunapee  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  is 
the  source  of  Sugar  River,  and  is  the  largest  collection  of 
water  in  the  county.  It  was  named  in  honoi  of  Hon. 
John  Sullivan,  one  of  the  presidents  under  the  new  con- 
stitution. Valuation,  $7,492,942,  Population,  19,375. 
Farms,  2129.     Manufactories,  141. 

Grafton  County.  Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 
Bounded  north  by  Coos  county,  oast  by  Coos,  Carroll,  and 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  439 

Belknap  counties,  south  by  Merrimack  and  Sullivan  coun- 
ties, and  west  by  Vermont.  Shire  towns,  Haverhill  and 
Plymouth.  It  contains  38  towns,  23  of  which  were 
incorporated  under  the  reign  of  George  III.,  and  15  un- 
der the  state  government.  Its  greatest  length  is  58  miles ; 
greatest  breadth,  30.  It  is  watered  on  its  west  and  north- 
western borders  by  Connecticut  River.  Lower  Ammonoo- 
suc,  Pemigewassett,  and  Mascomy  Rivers  are  considerable 
streams,  and  afford  good  water  power.  Squam,  Newfound, 
and  Mascomy  Lakes  are  the  principal  collections  of  water. 
The  surface  of  this  county,  as  well  as  the  soil,  is  greatly 
diversified.  A  large  portion  is  hilly  and  mountainous, 
though  comparatively  but  little  is  unfit  for  cultivation.  In 
the  north-eastern  part  is  a  large  ti-act  of  ungranted  lands, 
which  probably  will  never  be  thickly  inhabited.  It  is  most- 
ly a  sterile,  rocky,  and  mountainous  region.  The  hilly  por- 
tions afford  excellent  pasturage,  while  its  extensive  and  fer- 
tile meadows  and  intervals  produce  abundant  crops  of  grass, 
grain,  and  all  the  fruits  common  to  this  climate.  The  first 
settlement  was  made  in  Lebanon.  Grafton  county  received 
its  name  in  honor  of  Augustus  Henry  Fitzroy,  Duke  of 
Grafton.  Valuation,  $12,318,351.  Population,  42,343. 
Farms,  5063.     Manufactories,  424. 

Coos  County.  Incorporated  December  24,  1803. 
Bounded  north  by  the  highlands  which  separate  the  waters 
which  flow  into  the  St.  Lawrence  from  those  flowing  into 
the  Connecticut,  east  by  Maine,  south  by  Carroll  and  Graf- 
ton counties,  and  west  by  Vermont.  Shire  town,  Lancas* 
ter.  It  contains  26  towns,  five  of  which  were  incorpo- 
rated in  the  reign  of  George  III.,  and  21  by  the  state 
government.  This  is  the  largest  county  in  the  state,  being 
76  miles  in  length,  and  on  an  average  20  miles  in  width. 


440  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Its  area  is  estimated  at  1,000,000  acres.  A  great  portitm 
is  mountainous,  and  unfit  for  cultivation.  The  White 
Mountain  region  occupies  the  southern  portion,  and  in- 
cludes little  else  than  "rocky  vales  and  lofty  piles."  The 
mountains  extend  about  20  mUes  from  south-west  to  north- 
east, being  the  more  elevated  parts  of  a  range  reaching 
many  miles  in  that  direction.  Their  base  is  about  10  miles 
in  extent,  covering  an  area  of  about  200  square  miles,  or 
128,000  acres.  Mount  Washington,  the  highest  peak,  is 
6226  feet  above  high  water  mark  in  Portsmouth.  Besides 
these  gigantic  piles,  there  are  other  considerable  elevations 
in  different  parts  of  the  county.  Most  of  the  ungranted 
lands,  the  grants  to  Dartmouth  College,  and  Gilmanton 
and  Atkinson  Academies,  Wentworth's  Location,  Crawford's 
Grant,  and  the  tract  called  Odell,  ai'e  within  its  limits. 
Three  of  the  principal  rivers  of  New  England  —  the  Con- 
necticut, Androscoggin,  and  the  Saco  —  take  their  rise  here. 
There  are  extensive  tracts  of  fine  interval  and  upland  in 
various  parts  of  this  county  ;  and,  although  the  husband- 
man may  not,  in  every  location,  feast  his  eyes  on  fertile 
plains  and  cultivated  hills,  yet  the  lover  of  Nature  may 
admire  the  majestic  splendor  and  the  impregnable  founda- 
tions of  her  strongholds.  Coos  is  the  Indian  name  of  the 
Connecticut,  and  signifies  crooked.  The  first  settlement 
was  made  at  Lancaster  in  1763.  Valuation,  $2,782,946. 
Population,  10,445.     Farms,  1439.     Manufactories,  69. 


CITIES  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The    City    of   Manchester.     Incorporated    in  June, 
1846.     Mayor,  Frederic  Smyth.     Valuation,  $6,795,682. 
Value  of  factories,  $2,544,100.     Stock  in  trade,  $510,990. 
32* 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  441 

Population  in  1820,  761;  1840,  3235;  1850,   13,933; 
1854,  19,877. 

The  City  of  Portsmouth.  Incorporated  July  6,  1849. 
Horton  D.  Walker  mayor.  Valuation,  $5,206,972.  Val- 
ue of  factories,  |244,100.  Stock  in  trade,  $941,510. 
Population  in  1820,  7327  ;  1840,  7887  ;  1850,  9739 ; 
1854,  9942. 

The  City  of  Concord.  Incorporated  July  6,  1849. 
City  charter  adopted  in  1853.  Mayor,  Joseph  Low. 
Valuation,  $3,168,065.  Value  of  factories  and  mills, 
$74,100.  Stock  in  trade,  $182,150.  Population  in 
1820,  2838 ;  1840,  4903  ;  1850,  8584  ;  1854,  10,000. 

The  city  of  Nashua.  Incorporated  June  27,  1853. 
Mayor,  Josephus  Baldwin.  Valuation,  $3,809,416.  Val- 
ue of  factories,  $834,000.  Stock  in  trade,  $546,634. 
Population  in  1820,  1142;  1840,  3600;  1850,  8972; 
1854,  10,462. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AS  IT  IS. 

PART    III. 
A  GENERAL  VIEW 

OF  THE 

STATE    OF    NEW     HAMPSHIRE; 

COMPRISING 

NATURAL    FEATURES, 
EDUCATION    AND    RELIGION, 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES, 

ACCOUNT   OF  VARIOUS  SOCIETIES   AND   ASSOCIATIONS; 
LIST  OF  B-\ITOS,  RAILROADS,  AND  NEWSPAPERS; 

TOOETHER  WITH 

THE   CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

(443) 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 

INCLUDING 

SCBFACE,  CLIMATE,  GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY,  SOIL  AND  PRODUCTIONS, 

WITH  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  ALL  THE  PRINCIPAL  LAKES, 

RIVERS,  AND  MOUNTAINS. 


SURFACE. 

The  situation,  boundaries,  and  area  of  New  Hampshire 
have  already  been  given.*  The  surface  of  the  state  is 
greatly  diversified,  ha^^ng  eveiy  degree  of  elevation,  from 
the  gently  undulating  plain  to  the  lofty  cloud-capped 
mountain.  Its  extent  of  sea  coast  is  about  eighteen  miles. 
For  twenty  or  thirty  miles  back  from  the  sea  the  country  is 
tolerably  level.  The  first  mountain  range  is  called  the 
Blue  Hills.  Beyond  this  are  numerous  elevations,  some 
of  which  are  of  considerable  height.  Still  farther  to  the 
west  is  a  lofty  ridge,  which  separates  the  waters  of  the 
Connecticut  from  those  of  the  Merrimack,  commonly  called 
the  Height  of  Land.  The  highest  elevation  in  this  part 
of  the  state  is  the  Monadnock  Mountain.  The  same  ridge 
extends  north,  separating  the  tributaries  of  the  Connecticut 
from  those  that  flow  eastwardly,  until  it  terminates  in  the 
lofty  summits  of  the  White  Mountains.    The  country  north 

*  See  page  85. 

38  (445) 


446  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT   IS. 

of  these  mountains  is  generally  hilly  and  mountainous,  and 
for  the  most  part  but  thinly  inhabited. 


CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  New  Hampshire  is  very  various  and 
fickle.  Although  one  of  the  coldest  states  in  the  Union  — 
its  mean'  yearly  temperature  being  not  far  fi-om  44°  — 
there  are  yet  few  in  which  the  thermometer  ever  rises 
higher  than  here  during  some  of  our  hot  summer  days, 
and  very  few  iu  which  the  mercury  ever  falls  so  low.  The 
whole  range  of  the  temperature  of  the  state,  from  the 
extreme  heat,  when  the  thermometer  stands  at  near  100°, 
to  the  extreme  cold,  when  the  mercury  is  frozen  at  a  tem- 
perature of  more  than  40  degrees  below  zero,  is  something 
over  140  degrees,  a  yearly  range  almost  unparalleled  in 
any  district  of  similar  dimensions.  And  the  daily  varia- 
tions are  hardly  less  remarkable,  sometimes  amounting  to 
40  degrees,  or  even  more,  within  twenty-four  hours ;  the 
mean  daily  range,  however,  is  about  17  degrees. 

The  range  of  the  barometer  also,  though  not  quite  so 
excessive,  still  deserves  notice.  It  amounts  in  all,  at  any 
one  place,  to  about  2.5  inches ;  and  more  than  one  inch  of 
this  variation  sometimes  occurs  in  twenty-four  hours,  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  one  of  the  great  storms.  It  should 
be  observed  that  this  range  is  greater  near  the  level  of 
the  sea. 

The  amount  of  precipitation  (that  is  of  rain,  and  snow,* 


•  The  tables  published  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution  reckon  the  snow  as 
one  tenth  water,  so  that  ten  inches  of  snow  are  reckoned  equal  to  one  inch  of 
rain.  Of  course,  ten  inches  of  very  heavy  snow  are  more  than  equal  to  one 
inch  of  rain,  and  ten  of  very  lif^ht  snow  are  less ;  but  the  ratio  given  is  a  fair 
'.verage. 


CLIMATE. 


447 


reduced  to  watei-,  added  together)  for  the  whole  year  is 
from  35  to  55  inches,  varying,  of  course,  in  different  years, 
and  different  places.  The  amount  of  snow  is  much  less 
constant,  varying  from  less  than  a  foot  during  the  whole 
"winter,  as  sometimes  happens  near  the  sea,  to  10  or  12 
feet,  as  sometimes  among  the  mountains.  Usually  there  is 
more,  both  of  rain  and  snow,  inland  than  on  the  coast, 
although  the  number  of  cloudy  and  unpleasant  days  is  less. 
The  proportion  of  pleasant  days  to  the  whole  number  of 
days  in  the  year  is  about  one  third,  and  there  are  not  quite 
as  many  in  which  some  snow  or  rain  falls ;  the  rest  are 
variable  days,  not  actually  stormy,  but  only  more  or  less 
dark  and  cloudy.  New  Hampshire  storms  are  not  generally 
of  great  violence,  or  long  duration,  unless  near  the  sea, 
but,  as  every  one  knows,  differ  much  in  these  respects. 
The  larger  storms  almost  invariably  move  from  the  south- 
west to  the  north-east.  They  are  usually  preceded  by  a 
calm  atmosphere,  and  a  high  elevation  of  the  barometer. 
They  commence  with  easterly  winds,  and  a  depression  of 
the  mercurial  column,  often  very  rapid,  which  reaches  its 
limit  at  the  crisis  of  the  storm.  Sometimes,  especially  in 
exposed  situations,  they  are  followed  by  strong  westerly 
gales ;  but  these  are  selflom  violent  enough  to  do  any 
damage.  These  storms,  especially  in  the  winter,  not  unfre- 
quently  recur  at  periods  of  a  week  or  eight  days,  whence 
the  old  saying,  'that  if  the  first  Sunday  of  a  month  be 
stormy  the  rest  will  be  like  it.' 

Thunder  storms  are  quite  common  in  the  summer 
months ;  sometimes  very  violent.  In  their  number  differ- 
ent years  differ  greatly,  as  may  be  seen  by  referring  to  the 
table  at  the  end  of  this  article.  They  seem  to  be  more 
frequent  away  from  the  ocean.     There  are  a  few,  but  very 


448  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

few,  instances  recorded  of  lightning  seen  in  the  winter, 
and  in  only  one  or  two  of  these  accompanied  by  thunder. 

Whirlwinds  and  tornadoes  are  very  rare,  yet  not  un- 
known. The  aui'ora  borealis  has  been  seen  lately,  about 
a  dozen  times  in  the  course  of  the  year  on  an  average ;  and 
when  we  consider  how  many  nights  are  moonlight,  and 
how  many  cloudy,  we  may  look  upon  it  as  quite  a  common 
phenomenon.  The  frequency  of  it  is  exceedingly  variable 
in  different  years,  and,  indeed,  it  is  considered  by  some  in 
a  measure  periodic.  It  is  pretty  certain  that  for  some 
ninety  years  after  1625,  there  were  very  few  seen  in 
England,  for  there  are  but  two  on  record,  while  in  the 
twenty  years  that  followed  they  were  remarkably  frequent 
and  brilliant.  So  also  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  the  six 
years  1835  to  '41  inclusive,  there  were  observed  134,  of 
which  30  are  marked  "very  brilliant,"  thus  giving  an  aver- 
age of  22  per  annum  for  those  years.  Of  late  years,  as 
mentioned  above,  this  phenomenon  has  been  by  no  means 
so  common.  Occasionally,  but  of  course  rarely,  we  have 
very  beautiful,  and  even  magnificent,  exhibitions  of  this 
splendid  meteor. 

These  general  remarks,  of  course,  need  some  modifica- 
tions and  additions  to  make  them'  strictly  applicable  to  all 
parts  of  a  state  which  differs  so  much  in  its  different  dis- 
tricts. For  instance,  the  White  Mountain  country  is  much 
colder  than  either  the  Connecticut  valley  or  that  of  the 
Merrimack,  and  still  more  than  the  seaboard.  It  is  at 
Franconia  that  the  maximum  of  cold  has  been  observed. 
In  this  region  also  falls  the  greatest  quantity  of  snow  and 
rain.  Here  the  spring  is  later,  and  the  fall  earlier,  by  full 
three  weeks,  than  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  The 
summer   is   short   and   the  winter  very  long,  so   that   it 


CLIMATE. 


44» 


is    not  uncommon   to   have    more  than  twenty  weeks  of 
sleighing. 

In  the  Connecticut  valley,  extending  as  it  does  north 
and  south  for  .so  great  a  distance,  there  is  more  variety. 
While  in  the  north  the  climate  is  not  far  different  from  that 
of  the  White  Mountains,  in  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
state  it  is  much  warmer,  and  more  like  that  of  Massachu- 
setts, so  that  peaches,  chestnuts,  &c.,  arc  found,  although 
not  so  abundant  as  in  the  corresponding  part  of  the  Merri- 
mack valley.  Along  the  bank  of  the  river  morning  fogs 
are  very  common  in  the  months  of  August  and  September ; 
but  they  seem  to  have  little  of  the  chilling  and  depressing 
effect  of  the  ocean  fogs,  that  sometimes  occur  on  the  coast, 
especially,  perhaps,  because  the  river  fogs  generally  precede 
fair  days,  and  are  dispersed  by  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  while  the  latter  last  whole  days,  and  are  often 
accompanied  by  raw  east  winds  and  drizzling  rains. 
These  east  winds  arc  very  rare  in  the  Connecticut  valley, 
where  75  per  cent,  of  the  winds  observed  are  westerly, 
and  only  25  per  cent,  easterly;  and  of  this  25  per  cent, 
full  17  are  from  the  south-east,  not  an  uncomfortable  quar- 
ter, leaving  only  about  8  per  cent,  from  the  east  and  north- 
east. And,  if  M'e  except  an  occasional  day  or  two  in  March, 
those  damp,  murky  days,  when  the  air  is  filled  with  a  rain 
so  fine  that  it  resembles  mist,  —  such  days  as  are  not  un- 
frequent  near  the  salt  water,  —  are  wholly  unknown  in  the 
western  part  of  the  state.  Among  the  White  INIountains 
and  in  the  ^Merrimack  valley  there  arc  more  east  winds, 
and  yet  not  a  large  proportion,  while  they  are  as  common 
as  any  on  the  coast.  The  valley  of  the  Merrimack  is  not 
very  different  from  that  of  the  Connecticut,  but  yet  is 
somewhat  warmer,  forming  a  kind  of  mean  between  it  and 
the  seaboard,  where  the  temperature,  though  not  on  the 
38* 


450  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

average  a  great  deal  higher,  is  much  more  uniform,  the 
very  cold  and  the  very  hot  days  fewer,  the  cloudy  and 
stormy  ones  more  numerous,  the  snow  not  so  deep,  and 
the  winter  not  so  long ;  so  that  the  fifteen  weeks'  sleighing 
of  the  interior  is  reduced  to  six  or  seven  here.  It  is  also 
more  windy,  because  of  the  more  level  and  exposed  charac- 
ter of  the  country.  As  compared  with  other  states,  New 
Hampshire  is  one  of  the  coldest,  though  part  of  Maine  and 
Vermont,  with  Northern  New  York  and  Iowa,  and  other 
more  westerly  regions  of  the  same  latitude  this  side  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  are  not  very  different.  Its  mountainous 
and  diversified  surface  causes  the  great  variety  of  tempera- 
ture which  has  been  noticed.  The  quiet,  deep-lying  valleys 
become  in  winter  basins  of  stinging  cold,  while  in  summer 
they  are  sometimes  heated  like  ovens ;  but  the  more  level 
portions  nearer  the  ocean,  although  they  enjoy  a  more 
equable  temperature,  have  far  less  of  that  clear  blue  sky 
and  bracing  air  so  peculiar  to  New  Hampshire  hills.  And 
who  can  doubt  that  this  extreme  and  ever-changing  climate 
has  had  its  due  effect  in  moulding  the  energetic,  self-pos- 
sessed, and  versatile  character  of  our  New  Hampshire 
men  ?  It  certainly  is  ill  adapted  for  the  nurture  of  idle- 
ness or  effeminacy,  since  the  short  summer  requires  a 
correspondingly  vigorous  exertion  to  secure  the  timely 
fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the  long,  cold  winter  necessarily 
bestows  on  all  who  come  under  its  influence  a  great  power 
of  sturdy  endurance. 

Subjoined  is  a  table  giving  some  of  the  principal  results 
of  the  meteorological  observations,  from  the  year  1844  to 
1853  inclusive,  taken  at  Dartmouth  College,  which  place 
may  be  considered  a  pretty  fair  type  of  the  Connecticut 
valley.  Its  latitude  is  approximately  43°  42'  28";  its 
longitude  about  72°  17',  west  of  Greenwich,  and  its  eleva- 


CUM  ATE.  461 

tion  530  feet  above  the  sea  level.  The  mean  tempera- 
ture of  Dover  and  Concord  is  a  little  warmer  than  that  of 
Hanover,  yet  not  more  than  one  or  two  degrees.  Their 
mean  yearly  range  is  from  10  to  15  degrees  less.  The 
mean  temperature  of  Franconia,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
lower  by  a  somewhat  greater  difference,  and  its  range  also 
less. 

The  greatest  amount  of  rain  which  has  fallen  in  any  sin- 
gle month  is  9.46  inches,  in  August,  1849.  The  mean  yearly 
range  of  temperature  is  118.4°;  the  extreme  yearly  range 
is  125" ;  and  the  range  for  the  whole  ten  years  129°.  The 
mean  daily  range  is  16.3°.  The  extreme  range  of  the 
barometer  is  from  28.250  inches  to  30.500  inches,  or  2.25 
inches.  The  change  in  the  relative  number  of  the  winds 
for  the  last  three  years,  as  given  in  the  table,  results  from 
a  change  of  observers,  and  the  method  of  observation. 


452 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


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ing. 

GEOLOGY    AND    MINERALOGY.  468 

GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY. 

A  correct  knowledge  of  the  geological  formation  and 
mineral  resources  of  the  several  states  which  constitute  our 
confederacy  is  now  deemed  of  the  utmost  importance.  Nor 
is  this  surprising  when  we  consider  the  amount  of  hidden 
treasure  thus  brought  to  light,  or  the  vast  amount  of  wealth 
expended  with  the  expectation  of  realizing  hopes  which 
the  least  knowledge  of  the  science  of  geology  would  have 
shown,  at  once,  to  be  utterly  vain.  The  first  settlers  of 
Virginia  are  not  the  only  persons  who  have  rejoiced  at  the 
sight  of  a  mass  of  yellow  mica  or  iron  pyrites,  supposing  that 
they  had  found  "  the  land  of  Ophir,  where  there  is  gold." 

Until  within  a  very  few  years  the  whole  subject  of 
mining,  metallurgy,  and  mineralogy  was  involved  in  ig- 
norance and  superstition ;  and  the  only  wonder  is,  that 
man,  amidst  such  gross  folly  and  error,  really  accomplished 
so  much. 

All  knowledge  is  so  remarkable,  each  new  fact  is  so  sur- 
prising, and  every  new  science  discloses  so  many  wonders, 
that  for  a  time  it  is  condemned  as  false.  Such,  in  a  re- 
markable degree,  has  been  the  fate  of  the  science  of  geol- 
ogy. Sharp  has  been  the  conflict  and  severe  the  ordeal 
through  which  it  has  passed  before  it  could  be  received 
into  the  inner  temple  of  the  older  and  accredited  sciences. 

Until  within  a  recent  period  there  was  no  information 
concerning  the  geological  structure  and  the  mineral  charac- 
teristics of  New  Hampshire,  excepting  that  which  was  col- 
lected by  private  and  individual  research,  and  which  was, 
of  course,  limited  and  defective.  But  in  June,  1839,  a 
law  was  passed,  authorizing  the  governor  to  appoint  a  state 
geologist,  in  order  to  make  "  a  thorough  geological  and  min- 
eralogical  survey  of  this  state."     The  state  geologist,  "by 


4S4  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    A8   IT   IS. 

and  with  the  consent  of  the  governor  and  council,"  was  re- 
quired to  appoint  an  assistant  for  the  purpose  of  analyzing 
such  rocks,  ores,  soils,  and  other  substances  as  should  be 
presented  to  him  for  that  purpose.  The  sum  of  $2000 
annually  for  three  years  was  appropriated  to  carry  out  the 
provisions  of  the  law,  and  in  1842  an  additional  sum  of 
$3000  was  voted  to  continue  the  survey.  Agreeably  to 
the  provisions  of  this  act.  Governor  Page  appointed  Charles 
T.  Jackson,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  state  geologist,  under  whose 
directions  the  survey  was  commenced  in  1840,  and  com- 
pleted in  1843.  The  final  report  was  made  in  1844. 
This  report  imbodies  a  large  amount  of  useful  and  impor- 
tant information,  and  has  served  to  diffuse  much  light  in 
regard  to  the  agricultural  and  mineral  resources  of  New 
Hampshire ;  Avhile,  at  the  same  time,  it  has  checked  ex- 
travagant hopes  and  a  spirit  of  la^dess  speculation. 

Probably  no  portion  of  this  continent,  (or  perhaps  of  the 
world,)  of  equal  area,  furnishes  more  numerous  or  more 
convincing  illustrations  of  the  principles  of  geology  than 
the  "  Granite  State,"  having  a  formation  peculiarly  its 
own,  while  those  of  the  states  both  east  and  west  of  it  are 
different,  and  similar  to  each  other.  The  anticlinal  axis 
passing  nearly  north  and  south  through  the  entire  state 
proves  conclusively  a  remarkable  upheaval  to  have  taken 
place  in  this  region  at  some  time  during  the  countless  ages 
of  the  past.  This,  moreover,  is  confirmed  (did  it  indeed 
need  confirmation)  by  the  fact  that  the  rock  is  almost  en- 
tirely granite,  long  since  proved  to  be  one  of  the  lowest 
primitive  rocks,  only  appearing  upon  the  surface  in  conse- 
quence of  being  forced  up  through  thousands  of  feet  of 
superincumbent  strata.  From  its  granitic  formation,  in- 
deed, does  the  state  derive  its  appellation  of  "Granite 
State,"  although,  in  the  southern  portion,  the  mica  slate 


GEOLOGY   AND    MINERALOGY.  455 

predominates  in  several  of  the  mountains,  and  also,  to  more 
or  less  extent,  in  other  parts  of  the  state. 

The  many  and  great  changes  which  the  surface  of  this 
state  has  evidently  undergone  have  given  a  varied,  wild, 
and  picturesque  appearance  to  its  mountains  and  mountain 
scenery. 

The  drift  epoch  has  left  its  witness  in  almost  every  part 
of  the  state,  scratches  being  found  upon  the  surface  of  the 
rocks,  and  extending  usually  in  a  direction  nearly  south, 
showing  that  the  great  flood  of  waters,  fiom  Avhatever 
source  it  might  arise,  had  its  origin  in  a  direction  almost 
due  north.  But,  besides  these,  a  discovery  was  made  a 
few  years  since  which  is  accounted  of  great  value  to  the 
science  of  geology. 

In  the  construction  of  the  railroad  from  Concord  to 
Lebanon  it  was  found  necessary  to  make  a  deep  cut  in  the 
town  of  Orange,  near  what  is  termed  the  Summit,  it  being 
the  highest  land  between  the  Connecticut  and  Merrimack 
Rivers,  over  900  feet  above  the  bed  of  those  streams,  and 
dividing  the  streamlets  Avhich  flow  into  them.  On  this 
height  of  land  were  discovered,  in  the  solid  granite,  pot 
holes  over  four  feet  in  diameter  at  the  top,  two  feet  at  the 
bottom,  and  eleven  feet  in  depth.  These  were  worn 
smooth,  like  those  at  Bellows  Falls,  and  in  them  stones 
rounded  and  polished  similar  to  those  found  in  pot  holes 
formed  in  our  own  times.  One  of  these,  which  is  now  in  the 
museum  at  Dartmouth  College,  is  over  two  feet  in  length, 
and  nearly  in  the  form  of  an  egg,  worn  and  polished  very 
smooth.  Now,  there  can  be  but  one  solution  to  this  prob- 
lem. These  pot  holes  must  have  been  formed  by  a  great 
stream  of  water  flowing  for  centuries.  But  in  order  that  a 
stream  should  flow  through  this  gap,  there  must  have  beea 
an  entirely  different  configuration  from  that  which  now 
exists,  and  this  region  must  have  been,  at  least,  one  thou- 


456  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS  IT    IS. 

sand  feet  lower  than  at  present,  compared  with  the  beds  of 
the  Connecticut  and  Merrimack  Rivers  ;  since  which  time 
it  has  been  elevated  by  subterranean  causes.  The  time  re- 
quired for  the  forming  of  these  can  hardly  be  estimated. 
"  The  rock  is  as  hard  as  that  at  Bellows  Falls,  where  it  is 
rare  to  find  pot  holes  more  than  three  feet  deep ;  and  yet 
those  falls  have  been  in  operation  from  a  period  long  an- 
terior to  the  creation  of  man." 


MINERALS. 

As  might  be  expected  in  a  formation  like  that  of  New 
Hampshire,  minerals  in  great  variety  and  abundance  are 
found  in  almost  every  part  of  the  state.  These  are  val- 
uable generally  rather  for  utility  than  for  their  rarity,  and 
are  consequently  an  important  item  in  the  wealth  of  the 
state ;  while  the  mineralogist  will  find  ample  scope  for  in- 
vestigation and  research.  Some  of  the  principal  minerals 
found  in  this  state  are  the  following  :  — 

Granite  is,  of  the  quarry  stones,  the  most,  abundant, 
and  is  indeed  so  common  that  but  little  value  is  attached 
to  it,  though  its  value  is  now  rapidly  increasing  with  the 
increasing  facilities  for  transportation.  Excellent  quarries 
are  found  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  state. 

SiENiTE,  which  is  a  building  stone  about  equal  to  gran- 
ite, abounds  in  Diuham,  Moultonborough,  and  Sandwich. 

Gneiss,  which  is  very  similar  to  granite,  is  extensively 
used  in  building  on  account  of  its  splitting  more  easily  in 
one  direction  than  another. 

Mica  Slate  is  composed  of  parallel  layers  of  mica,  in- 
termixed with  fine  granular  quartz,  and  is  highly  valued, 
when  it  splits  true,  for  certain  economical  purposes.  It  is 
scattered  throughout  the  state,  and  most  of  the  minerals 
occurring  here  are  found  in  this  rock. 


I 


MINERALS.  457 

Talcose  Rock,  or  Soapstone,  is  an  invaluable  material 
for  certain  purposes,  being  wrought  into  a  great  variety  of 
useful  articles.  The  principal  quarries  are  in  Francestown 
and  Orford,  the  most  valuable  quarry  in  this  country 
having  been  accidentally  discovered  in  the  former  place  ;n 
1794. 

AiiGiLLACEOUS  Slate  is  found  on  the  borders  of  the 
Connecticut  River,  on  the  western,  and  at  Portsmouth, 
Somersworth,  and  Bartlett,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  state. 
The  compact  variety  has  been  wrought  for  tombstones  in 
the  north-west  corner  of  Unity,  in  Claremont,  at  Dalton, 
Cornish  Flat,  and  several  other  places. 

Granular  Quartz,  on  account  of  the  facility  with  which 
its  grains  may  be  separated  by  the  crushing  wheel,  or  even 
by  the  stones  of  a  common  gristmill,  is  used  for  sandpaper, 
polishing  powder,  and  many  other  purposes  of  like  charac 
ter  ;  also  in  the  manufacture  of  common  window  glass 
It  occurs  most  abundantly  in  Acworth,  Unity,  and  Win- 
chester. 

Limestone  is  found  in  beds  apparently  inexhaustible, 
especially  in  Haverhill,  Lisbon,  and  Lyme,  where  quarries 
have  been  wrought  with  great  success. 

Novaculite,  or  Oilstone,  is  abundant  in  the  town  of 
Littleton,  and  of  a  veiy  good  quality.  It  is  quarried  and 
wrought  extensively. 

Felspar  is  one  of  the  components  of  granite,  and 
abounds  throughout  the  state,  but  is  most  easily  obtained 
from  the  mica  quarries  of  Alstead,  Grafton,  Springfield, 
and  Wilmot. 

Mica  abounds  in  the  towns  of  Alstead  and  Grafton, 
where  it  is  quarried  extensively  for  the  market. 

Fluor  Spar,  used  for  etching  on  glass  and  on  agate, 
occurs  in  Westmoreland  and  in  Jackson. 
39 


458  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Sulphate  of  Barytes  i«  found  in  Piermont  in  the 
specular  iron  ore. 

Beryl  is  found  in  Grafton,  Orange,  and  Danbury  in  its 
purest  form,  some  of  the  crystals  being  almost  equal,  in 
transparency  and  brilliancy,  to  the  diamond.  The  largest 
crystals  are  found  in  Acworth,  but  are  distinguished  rather 
for  their  size  than  their  piirity. 

Garnet.  —  The  principal  locations  of  this  mineral  are 
Haverhill,  Amherst,  and  Planover. 

Black  Lead,  or  Graphite,  is  of  considerable  value,  the 
most  extensive  and  profitable  mines  being  in  Goshen  and 
Antrim. 

Iron.  —  The  ores  of  this  metal  are  scattered  throughout 
the  state ;  but  the  two  most  valuable  localities,  all  things 
considered,  are  probably  in  Piermont  and  Bartlett. 

Zinc.  —  An  important  vein  of  this  metal  occurs  in 
Eaton. 

Copper.  —  The  most  important  localities  of  copper  ores 
are  in  Warren,  Bath,  and  Unity. 

Lead.  —  The  principal  locations  arc  in  Eaton  and  Shel- 
burne,  where  it  is  also  associated  with  silver  in  consider- 
able quantities. 

Tin  occurs  in  Jackson,  its  discovery  a  few^  years  since 
being  deemed  of  considerable  importance,  as  the  ore  was 
before  unknown  in  the  United  States. 

Silver  is  found  in  nearly  all  the  lead  ores  of  New 
Plampshire  in  sufficient  quantity  to  warrant  its  extraction 
from  the  reduced  lead,  especially  the  ores  of  Eaton  and 
Shelburne. 

Gold  is  found  in  very  small  quantities  in  Grafton  and 
Canaan. 

Molybdenum  occurs  in  great  abundance  in  the  town  of 
Westmoreland. 


SOIL    AND    PRODUCTIONS.  459 

Manganese  is  found  in  various  parts  of  the  state,  es- 
pecially in  Gilmanton,  Grafton,  Winchester,  and  Hins- 
dale. 

Chrome  is  found  in  minute  quantities  in  the  soil  of 
Dublin. 

Titanium  is  a  rare  ore,  but  found  comparatively  abun- 
dant in  Merrimack  and  Unity. 

Cadmium  is  found  in  all  the  ores  of  zinc,  but  most  abun- 
dant in  the  black  blende  of  Shelburne. 

Cobalt  is  found  in  Franconia,  but  is  rare. 

Arsenic  is  very  abundant,  both  native  and  in  the  state 
of  arsenical  pyrites.  In  Haverhill  it  is  found  in  the  former, 
and  in  Jackson,  Epsom,  and  Dunbarton  in  the  latter 
state. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  the  tin  ores  of  Jackson. 

Uranium  occurs  in  Westmoreland,  but  is  very  rare. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  list  that  New  Hampshire 
has  a  remarkable  variety  of  minerals,  containing  a  greater 
number  of  metals  than  any  other  state  in  the  Union.  Iron, 
zinc,  lead,  copper,  and  silver  are  the  most  important,  and 
the  mining  of  these  may  yet  become  a  leading  branch  of 
industry. 

SOIL  AND   PRODUCTIONS. 

The  soil  of  New  Hampshire  is  not  generally  distin- 
guished for  its  fertility,  though  by  patient  industry  it  is 
made  to  yield  very  abundant  and  valuable  products.  As 
the  soil  is  formed  from  the  detritus  of  the  rock,  —  the 
granite,  in  general,  greatly  predominating,  —  much  labor  is 
required  for.  successful  cultivation,  though  in  the  south- 
ern portions  a  lighter  and  more  fertile  soil  is  found  upon 
the  slate  formations  ;  and  upon  the  banks  of  the  large  riv- 
ers, as  the  Connecticut  and  the  Merrimack,  the  alluvial  de- 


460  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

posit  has  formed  some  of  the  finest  and  most  fertile  meadow 
lands  in  the  world.  The  peat  bogs,  which  abound  es- 
pecially in  the  towns  of  Dublin,  Littleton,  Northumber- 
land, Lancaster,  Rochester,  Warner,  and  Franklin,  are  of 
immense  advantage  to  the  farms  upon  which  they  are 
found.  Many  of  these  by  draining  become  excellent  grass 
meadows,  while  all  furnish  an  almost  inexhaustible  supply 
for  enriching  the  upland  fields.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
greater  attention  will  be  given  to  this  subject,  leading  to 
an  analysis  of  such  accumulations  wherever  found,  and  to 
a  more  general  use  of  this  natural  deposit,  which,  being 
composed  of  vegetable  matter,  partially  disorganized  and 
decomposed,  becomes,  when  mingled  with  lime,  a  valuable 
fertilizing  agent. 

Agriculture  is  the  leading  pursuit  of  the  people  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  most  of  the  products  common  to  v  the  lati- 
tude are  successfully  cultivated.  Wheat,  Indian  corn,  oats, 
rye,  &c.,  are  raised  in  large  quantities.  The  most  common 
fruits  are  apples,  pears,  plums,  and  cherries.  Peaches  are 
also  raised  to  some  extent  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state. 

Some  of  the  principal  forest  trees  are  the  birch,  beach, 
chestnut,  sugar  or  rock  maple,  oak,  hemlock,  pine,  cedar, 
and  spruce.  A  part  of  these  are  used  for  building  pur- 
poses and  cabinet  work  ;  others  are  chiefly  valuable  for  fuel. 
A  variety  of  the  maple,  called  birdseye  maple,  is  much 
prized  for  its  beauty.  The  white  pine  is  still  abundant, 
though  vast  quantities  of  it  have  already  been  sent  to  the 
market.  The  largest  and  best  of  these  trees  are  used  for 
the  masts  of  vessels.  From  the  rock  maple  large  quantities 
of  sugar  are  made  annually. 


LAKES.  461 


LAKES. 


Connecticut  Lake,  the  principal  source  of  Connecticut 
River,  is  situated  in  the  ungranted  land  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  state.  It  is  about  five  and  a  half  miles  in 
length  and  two  and  a  half  in  width.  A  few  miles  above 
this  is  a  smaller  body  of  water,  commonly  called  the  Sec- 
ond Lake,  and  still  farther  north  is  the  Third  Lake.  The 
latter  is  about  five  miles  from  Canada  line. 

OssiPEE  Lake  is  situated  in  the  townships  of  Ossipee 
and  Effingham.  It  is  of  an  oval  form,  having  an  area  of 
about  7000  acres.  Its  waters  are  clear  and  beautiful. 
The  scenery  in  the  vicinity  is  remarkably  fine!  The  Ossi- 
pee Indians  are  supposed  to  have  had  their  head  quarters 
in  the  neighborhood  of  this  lake. 

Squam  Lake,  in  Holderness,  Sandwich,  Moultonbor- 
ough,  and  Centre  Harbor,  is  described  as  "  a  splendid  sheet . 
of  water,  indented  by  points,  arched  with  coves,  and  stud- 
ded with  a  succession  of  romantic  islands."  Its  length  is 
about  six  miles ;  its  greatest  width  about  three.  Its  area 
is  estimated  at  from  6000  to  7000  acres.  Its  w^aters  are 
discharged  into  the  Merrimack  by  Squam  River. 

Sunapee  Lake  borders  on  New  London,  Newbury, 
and  Sunapee.  It  is  about  nine  and  a  half  miles  in  length, 
and  from  one  half  to  one  and  one  half  miles  in  width.  Its 
outlet  is  Sugar  River,  which  empties  into  the  Connecticut. 
It  was  once  contemplated  to  unite  the  Connecticut  and 
Merrimack  Rivers  by  a  canal  passing  from  the  mouth  of 
Sugar  River  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Contoocook.  A  sur- 
vey was  made  in  1816,  by  which  it  was  found  that  this  lake 
is  820  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  consequently 
that  the  proposed  canal  was  impracticable.  This  lake  is 
39» 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

situated  so  near  the  height  of  land  that  a  slight  excavation 
would  carry  its  waters  to  the  Merrimack. 

Umbagog  Lake  is  situated  partly  in  Maine  and  partly 
in  the  township  of  Errol.  Its  form  is  quite  irregular.  Its 
outlet  is  the  Androscoggin  River. 

WiNNiPiSEOGEE  Lake.  —  This  is  the  largest  body  of  wa- 
t€r  in  New  Hampshire.  It  is  situated  in  Belknap  and 
Carroll  counties,  environed  by  the  pleasant  towns  of  Moul- 
tonborough,  Tuftonborough,  Wolf  borough,  Centre  Harbor, 
Meredith,  Gilford,  and  Alton.  Its  form  is  irregular.  At 
the  west  end  are  three  large  bays  ;  on  the  north  is  a 
fourth,  and  at  the  east  end  are  three  others.  The  greatest 
length  is  about  25  miles ;  the  width  varies  from  one  to  ten. 
Its  height  above  the  level  of  the  sea  is  472  feet.  Its  out- 
let is  the  river  of  the  same  name.  In  the  summer,  steam- 
boats, sloops,  and  smaller  vessels  navigate  its  waters,  and 
in  the  winter  it  presents  a  beautiful  icy  expanse.  The 
.Indian  name  —  Winnipiseogee  —  is  said  to  mean  "the 
smile  of  the  Great  Spirit."  Doubtless  the  aborigines  were 
not  insensible  to  the  charms  of  Nature,  here  so  profusely 
exhibited.  The  waters  of  the  lake  are  clear  and  pellucid, 
and  in  some  places  of  great  depth.  Its  surface  is  studded 
with  islands,  which,  like  those  of  Lake  George  and  Casco 
Bay,  are  said  to  be  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  in  number. 
Some  of  them  arc  of  considerable  size,  and  possess  soil  of 
great  fertility. 

The  faciUty  with  which  this  beautiful  lake  is  reached  by 
the  various  routes  from  the  large  cities  on  the  sea  coast 
causes  it*  to  be  much  frequented  during  the  summer  months. 
Steamboats  connecting  with  the  railroads  ply  regularly  be- 
tween the  principal  places  bordering  upon  it.  The  follow- 
ing extract,  from  a  description  written  many  years  since  by 
Dr.  Dwight,  may  not  be  uninteresting :  — 

"  The  prospect  of  this  lake  and  its  environs  is  enchant- 


RIVERS.  .  468 

ing,  and  its  beauties  are  seen  with  great  advantage  from  a 
delightful  elevation  a  little  distance  from  the  road  towards 
Plymouth.  The  day  was  remarkably  fine.  Not  a  breath 
distuibcd  the  leaves,  or  ruffled  the  surface  of  the  waters. 
The  sky  was  serene  and  beautiful.  The  Winnipiseogee 
was  an  immense  field  of  glass,  silvered  by  the  lustre  which 
floated  on  its  surface.  Its  borders,  now  in  full  view,  now 
dimly  retiring  from  the  eye,  were  formed  by  those  flowing 
lines,  those  masterly  sweeps  of  nature  from  which  art  has 
derived  all  its  apprehension  of  ease  and  grace,  alternated, 
at  the  same  time,  by  the  intrusion  of  points,  by  turns  rough 
and  bold,  or  marked  with  the  highest  elegance  of  figure.  In 
the  centre,  a  noble  channel  spread  out  22  miles  before  the 
eye,  uninterrupted  even  by  a  bush  or  a  rock.  On  both  sides 
of  this  avenue  a  train  of  islands  arranged  themselves,  as  if  to 
adorn  it  with  the  finish  that  could  be  given  only  by  their 
glowing  verdure  and  graceful  forms.  That  the  internal  and 
successive  beauties  of  the  Winnipiseogee  strongly  resemble 
and  nearly  approach  those  of  Lake  George,  I  cannot  enter- 
tain a  doubt.  That  they  exceed  them  seems  scarcely 
credible.  But  the  prospect  from  the  hill  at  the  head  of 
Centre  Harbor  is  much  superior  to  that  of  Fort  George. 
The  Winnipiseogee  presents  a  field  of  at  least  twice  the 
extent.  The  islands  in  view  are  more  numerous,  of  finer 
forms,  and  more  happily  arranged.  The  shores  are  not 
inferior.  The  expansion  is  far  more  magnificent,  and  the 
grandeur  of  the  mountains  can  scarcely  be  rivalled." 

RIVERS. 

Ammonoosuc  River.  —  There  are  two  rivers  of  this 
name,  distinguished  as  Upper  and  Lower.  The  Upper 
Ammonoosuc  has  its  source  in  the  town  of  Milan,  and 
empties  into  the  Connecticut,  near  the  centre  of  Northum- 


464  .         NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

berland.  Its  course  is  somewhat  circuitous,  but  generally 
in  a  westerly  direction.  Its  length  is  about  fifty  miles. 
Its  most  considerable  tributary  is  Phillips  River. 

The  Lower  Ammonoosuc  rises  on  the  west  side  of  the 
White  Mountains,  near  the  Notch,  flows  in  a  south-wester- 
ly direction  about  fifty  miles,  and  falls  into  the  Connecticut 
in  the  southern  part  of  Bath.  Two  miles  from  its  mouth 
it  receives  the  Wild  Ammonoosuc,  a  rapid  and  turbulent 
stream,  especially  when  swollen  by  freshets. 

Androscoggin  River  receives  the  waters  of  Umbagog 
Lake,  and  also  of  the  Magalloway  River,  which  unites 
with  it  about  two  miles  below  the  lake.  From  this  junc- 
tion it  pursues  a  southerly  course,  until  it  reaches  the 
vicinity  of  the  White  Mountains,  where  it  passes  into 
Maine.  It  then  bends  to  the  east  and  south-east,  passes 
over  the  falls  at  Brunswick,  not  far  from  Bowdoin  College, 
and  finally  empties  into  the  Kennebec. 

AsHUELOT  Ri\t<;r  has  its  source  in  a  pond  in  Washing- 
ton. It  flows  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  and  falls  into 
the  Connecticut  in  Hinsdale,  three  miles  from  the  state 
line. 

Connecticut  River.  —  The  principal  sources  of  this 
river  are  among  the  highlands  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state.  It  extends  along  the  western  border  of  New  Hamp- 
shire about  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles,  its  western 
shore  forming  the  boundary  between  this  state  and  Ver- 
mont. Its  general  course  is  south.  Passing  through  the 
western  part  of  Massachusetts  and  tlj^  centre  of  Connecti- 
cut, it  empties  into  Long  Island  Sound ;  its  total  length 
oeing  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  There  are  many 
rapids  in  the  Connecticut,  the  most  celebrated  of  which  are 
Bellows  Falls,  in  Walpole. 

The    most    important    tributaries    of    the    Connecticut 


•  RIVERS.  466 

in  New  Hampshire  are  the  Upper  and  Lower  Ammo- 
noosuc,  Israel's,  John's,  Mascomy,  Sugar,  and  Ashuelot 
Rivers. 

The  intervals  arc  generally  spread  out  on  one  or  both 
sides  of  the  river,  and  extending  from  one  half  a  mile  to 
five  miles  in  breadth,  tliough  in  some  places  the  banks  are 
rocky  and  precipitous.  The  valley  of  the  Connecticut  is 
justly  admired  for  the  unsurpassed  beauty  of  its  scenery, 
while  the  river  itself  is  unquestionably  the  finest  in  the 
Eastern  States.  The  ancient  orthography  of  the  Indian 
name  was  Quonehtiquot,  signifying  Long  River. 

CoNTOOcooK  River  Avaters  most  of  the  towns  in  the 
western  part  of  Hillsborough  county.  It  has  its  origin 
from  several  ponds  in  Jaffrey  and  Rindge.  In  its  course 
northward  it  receives  numerous  tributaries.  In  Hills- 
borough it  takes  a  north-east  and  easterly  direction,  and, 
after  meandering  through  Concord,  falls  into  the  Merri- 
mack between  Concord  and  Boscawen. 

Hall's  Stream  rises  in  the  highlands  that  separate  this 
state  from  Canada,  and  forms  the  north-western  boundary 
of  the  state  from  its  source  to  its  junction  with  the  Con- 
necticut at  Stcwartstown. 

Israel's  River,  in  Cods  county,  receives  the  waters 
from  the  northern  part  of  the  White  Mountain  range,  and, 
fiowing  north-west,  empties  into  the  Connecticut  in  Lancas- 
ter. It  received  its  name  from  Israel  Glines,  a  hunter, 
who,  with  his  brother,  frequented  these  regions  long  before 
the  settlement  of  the  country. 

John's  River,  named  from  John  Glines,  has  its  princi- 
pal source  in  Pondicherry  Pond  in  Jefferson.  It  falls  into 
the  Connecticut  in  Dalton. 

Magalloway  River  rises  among  the  highlands  near  the 
boundary  line  between  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and. 


466  JfEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

after  receiving  the  waters  of  Dead  and  Diamond  Rivers, 
empties  into  the  Androscoggin  two  miles  from  the  outlet 
of  Umbagog  Lake.  ^ 

Mascomy  Rn^ER  is  composed  of  several  branches  which 
have  their  sources  in  Lebanon,  Enfield,  and  Canaan. 
These  unite  and  fall  into  Mascomy  Lake  in  Enfield. 
From  thence  the  river  pursues  a  westerly  course  thi'ough 
Lebanon,  and  empties  into  the  Connecticut. 

Merrimack  River  is  composed  of  two  branches.  The 
north  branch,  called  the  Pemigewasset,  has  its  sources 
among  the  White  and  Franconia  Mountains,  and  flows 
south,  receiving  the  waters  of  Baker's  and  Mad  River, 
until  it  unites  with  the  Wiunipiseogec  in  Franklin.  The 
latter  branch  is  the  outlet  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake.  From 
this  junction  the  river  is  called  the  jNIerrimack,  originally 
written  Merramacke  and  Monnomake,  which  in  the  Indian 
language  signifies  a  sturgeon.  The  river  pursues  a  south 
course  seventy-eight  miles  to  Chelmsford,  INIassachusetts, 
and  thence  flows  east  twenty-eight  miles,  emptying  into  the 
sea  at  Newburyport.  Some  of  its  principal  tributaries  are  the 
Contoocook,  Avhich  empties  into  it  near  the  north  line  of  Con- 
cord ;  the  Soucook  in  Pembroke ;  the  Suncook,  between  Pem- 
broke and  Allenstown ;  the  Piscataquog  in  Bedford ;  the  Sou- 
hegan  in  Merrimack ;  and  a  beautiful  stream  called  the  Nashua 
River  in  Dunstable.  The  Merrimack,  whose  fountains  are 
nearly  on  a  level  Avith  those  of  the  Connecticut,  is  much 
shorter  than  the  latter,  and,  of  course,  has  a  more  rapid 
descent  to  the  sea.  Hence  the  intervals  bordering  on  it 
are  less  extensive,  and  the  scenery  less  beautiful,  than  on 
the  Connecticut.  It  is,  however,  a  noble  river;  and  on  its 
borders  are  some  of  the  most  flourishing  towns  in  the  state. 
Its  width  varies  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  rods,  and  at  its 
mouth  it  presents  a  beautiful  expanse  of  water,  half  a  mile 


RIVERS.  467 

in  •width.  This  river,  with  Lake  Winnipiseogee  as  a  reser- 
voir, affords  an  immense  water  power,  which  has  given  rise 
to  several  flourishing  man  uflxcturing  villages  and  cities. 

PiscATAQUA  River,  the  only  large  river  which  is  wholly 
in  New  Hampshire,  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  several 
streams,  which  unite  in  a  broad  channel,  hollowed  out 
partly  by  them  and  partly  by  the  tide.  The  names  of  the 
tributaries,  beginning  at  the  north-east,  arc  Salmon  Fall, 
Cocheco,  Bellamy  Bank,  Oyster,  Lamprey,  Swamscot,  and 
Winnicut  Rivers.  The  last  five  unite  their  waters  in  Great 
Bay,  which  resembles  a  lake  more  than  a  river,  lying  be- 
tween Durham  and  Greenland.  The  waters  from  this  bay 
unite  with  the  Salmon  Fall  and  Cocheco  Rivers  a  few  miles 
below  Dover.  After  this  junction  they  proceed  in  a  direct 
course  to  the  south-east,  and  join  the  ocean  a  short  distance 
below  Portsmouth,  imbosoming  several  islands  in  their 
course,  and  forming  one  of  the  best  harbors  in  the  country. 
Although  the  Piscataqua  makes  an  imposing  appearance, 
most  of  its  tributaries  are  small ;  the  Salmon  Fall  furnish- 
ing more  water  than  all  the  rest.  This  river  is  called 
Newichawannock  from  the  falls  in  Berwick  to  its  junction 
with  the  Cocheco. 

Saco  River  rises  near  the  Notch  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains, within  a  few  rods  of  the  sources  of  the  Lower  Am- 
monoosuc.  It  flows  in  a  south-east  course,  receiving 
several  tributaries  from  the  mountains,  the  principal  of 
which  is  Ellis's  River,  and  passes  through  Conway  into 
Maine,  and  from  thence  to  the  ocean.  Its  whole  length  is 
estimated  at  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  This  river  rises 
and  overflows  very  suddenly  in  rainy  weather,  and  subsides 
rapidly  on  the  cessation  of  the  rain.  Its  ordinary  rise  in 
the  spring  freshets  is  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet,  but  in  some 
instances  it  has  been  known  to  exceed  twenty  feet. 


•  « 


468  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

Sugar  River  is  the  outlet  of  Sunapee  Lake.  It  flows 
west,  and  empties  into  the  Connecticut  in  Claremont.  In 
Its  rapid  descent  it  affords  a  large  amount  of  water  power, 
which  is  now  improved  to  a  considerable  extent. 

WiNNiPiSEOGEE  RivER.  —  See  Merrimack  River. 


MOUNTAINS. 

Blue  Hills  is  the  name  commonly  applied  to  a  range 
of  mountains  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  commencing 
in  Nottingham,  and  extending  in  a  northerly  direction 
through  Strafford,  Farmington,  and  Milton.  The  several 
peaks  are  known  as  Teneriffe,  Saddleback,  Tuckaway,  &c. 

Camel's  Rump.  —  This  mountain  is  situated  near  the 
boundary  line  betAveen  New  Hampshire  and  Canada.  It 
was  ascended,  in  1840,  by  Messrs.  Whitney  and  Williams, 
the  assistants  of  Dr.  Jackson  in  the  geological  survey  of 
the  state.  They  estimated  its  height  at  3615  feet  above 
the  sea  level.  "Its  geological  character  is  peculiar.  The 
specimens  wdiich  we  obtained  from  the  mountain  consisted 
of  amorphous  masses  of  horustone,  of  various  hues  of 
color,  from  a  light  apple-green  to  almost  black.  The 
mountain  is  covered  with  a  low  and  tangled  undergrowth, 
with  stunted  fir-balsams  and  spruce.  Although  the  ascent 
was  difficult,  we  were  amply  repaid  by  the  magnificent 
extent  of  the  view  which  was  displayed  before  us.  In  the 
north,  a  series  of  high  hills,  stretching  beyond  each  other 
for  five  or  ten  miles,  divides  the  waters  flowing  into  the 
St.  Lawrence  from  those  of  the  Magalloway  and  Connecti- 
cut, beyond  which,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  lay  the 
extended  table  lands  of  Canada,  unbroken  by  any  abrupt 
elevation ;  to  the  east,  the  lofty  granite  ranges  of  Maine, 
Mount  Bigelow,  and  Mount  Abraham  ;  farther  south,  the 


MOUNTAINS.  469 

numerous  large  lakes  near  Umbagog,  and  the  Diamond 
Hills ;  while  in  the  farthest  distance  were  seen  the  lofty 
peaks  of  the  "White  Mountains  ;  and  to  the  west  lay  the 
lakes  and  tributary  streams  of  the  Connecticut,  and  the 
rolling  ranges  of  the  Green  Mountains." 

Cape  Horn  is  an  abrupt  mountain  of  about  1000  feet 
in  height,  situated  near  the  centre  of  Northumberland. 
Its  north  base  is  separated  from  the  Connecticut  by  a  nar- 
row plain,  while  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  passes  near  the 
eastern  base. 

Cardigan  Mountain  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Orange.  It  is  composed  of  porphyritic  granite.  Its  height 
is  about  1500  feet. 

Carr's  Mountain  is  in  Ellsworth.  It  is  composed  of 
granite,  overlying  mica  slate.  Its  height  is  3381  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Carter's  Mountain  lies  between  Jackson  and  Chat- 
ham. 

Catamount  Hills.  —  The  highest  of  these  hills,  situat- 
ed in  Pittsfield,  is  1415  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Chocorua  Mountain  is  in  Albany.  Its  height  is  3358 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Gunstock  Mountain,  in  Gilford,  consists  of  three  dis- 
tinct peaks,  the  highest  of  which  is  2447  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  From  the  most  southerly  peak  there  is  a 
magnificent  view  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake. 

Kearsarge  Mountain  is  a  conspicuous  elevation  in 
Warner.  Its  sides  are  thickly  covered  with  trees,  which 
renders  the  ascent  difficult,  but  the  top  is  a  bare  rock.  It 
is  composed  of  mica  slate.  The  height  of  the  mountain  is 
3067  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Mount  La  Fayette  is  a  lofty  conical  mountain  of  gran- 
ite in  Franconia.  The  view  from  its  summit  is  regarded  as 
40 


470  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

not  infeiior  to  that  from  Mount  Washington.  Its  height 
is  5 067  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

MoxADXOcK  Mountain,  commonly  called  the  Grand 
Monadnock,  is  situated  in  JafFrey  and  Dublin,  22  miles 
east  from  Connecticut  River.  Its  height  is  3718  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  rocks  near  the  summit 
consist  of  a  hard  variety  of  gneiss.  The  plants  are  gener- 
ally of  an  alpine  character ;  only  a  few  dwarfish  spruce 
trees  grow  in  the  crevices  of  the  rocks.  The  scenery,  as 
viewed  from  the  top  of  the  mountain,  is  extremely  fine. 
The  surrounding  country  appears  like  a  level  plain,  studded 
with  numerous  villages  and  ponds.  Of  the  latter,  some 
thirty  are  visible,  some  of  them  of  considerable  size.  It  is 
said  that  evidences  of  volcanic  action  have  been  observed 
here. 

MoosEHiLLOCK  is  a  noble  eminence  in  the  south-east 
part  of  Benton.  Its  height  is  estimated  at  4636  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  thus  giving  it  rank  among  the  highest 
mountains  in  New  England. 

Moose  INIountain  is  the  name  given  to  an  elevation 
in  Hanover,  and  to  another  between  Brookfield  and  Mid- 
dleton. 

OssiPEE  Mountain,  in  Ossipee,  is  about  four  miles  from 
the  eastern  shore  of  Winnipi'seogee  Lake.  It  consists  of 
several  distinct  peaks,  the  highest  of  Avhich  is  2361  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  is  well  wooded  to  the  sum- 
mit.    The  rock  is  gneiss. 

Pequaket  Mountain  is  situated  in  Bartlett.  Its  height 
is  3367  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  view  of  the 
surrounding  country  from  its  summit  is  truly  magnificent. 

Pilot  Mountain.  —  See  Gazetteer,  Kilkenny. 

Profile  Mountain.  —  See  Gazetteer,  Franconia. 

Ragged  Mountains,  so  called  from  their  rough  appeal"- 


THE    AVHITE    MOUNTAINS.  471 

ance,  are  situated  between  Andover  and  Hill,  extending 
about  ten  miles  from  the  Pemigewasset  to  the  vicinity  of 
Kearsarge.  It  is  a  bleak  and  precipitous  range.  The 
northern  portion  is  about  i3000  feet  in  height. 

The  White  Mountains.  —  The  White  Mountain  range 
is  in  Coos  county,  and  extends  about  twenty  miles  from 
south-west  to  north-east.  The  width  of  the  range  is 
various,  but  hardly  exceeds  in  any  place  more  than  nine  or 
ten  miles.  Here  arc  found  the  highest  elevations  in  New 
'  England,  and,  with  a  single  exception,  the  highest  in  the 
United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  unsur- 
passed magnificence  and  grandeur  of  the  scenery  attract 
multitudes  of  visitors  annually,  and  give  to  New  Hamp- 
shire the  well-deserved  appellation  of  the  "  Switzerland  of 
America." 

According  to  Dr.  Belknap  the  Indian  name  of  the 
mountains  was  Agiocochook.  An  ancient  tradition  pre- 
vailed among  them  that  a  deluge  once  occurred,  which 
swept  away  every  human  being  except  a  single  Powwow 
and  his  Avife,  who  fled  to  the  mountains,  and  were  there 
preserved.  From  them  the  earth  was  repeopled.  They 
had,  moreover,  a  superstitious  dread  of  ascending  the  sum- 
mits, which  their  imagination  peopled  with  invisible  beings, 
who  sometimes  manifested  their  power  in  storms  and  tem- 
pests, over  Avhich  they  were  supposed  to  hold  absolute 
control.  But  though  the  savages  never  attempted  the 
ascent,  believing  success  impossible,  they  frequented  the 
surrounding  country  and  the  mountain  defiles,  and  propa- 
gated many  marvellous  tales  of  what  they  alleged  could 
there  be  seen.  Among  other  things,  they  gave  accounts  of 
immense  carbuncles  far  up  the  steep  and  inaccessible  sides 
of  the  mountains,  which  shone  in  the  night  Anth  the  most 
brilliant  and  dazzling  splendor. 


# 


472  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    13. 

The  first  visit  of  white  men  to  these  regions  was  made 
by  Neal,  Jocelyn,  and  Field  in  1632.  They  were  urged 
partly,  no  doubt,  by  curiosity,  and  partly  by  the  hope  of 
finding  mineral  treasures.  They  gave  a  glowing  account 
of  their  adventures,  and  of  the  extent  and  grandeur  of  the 
mountains,  which  they  called  the  Crystal  Hills.  vSince 
then  they  have  frequently  been  visited  by  hunters  and 
men  of  science  ;  and  within  a  few  years  they  have  become 
one  of  the  most  fashionable  places  of  summer  resort  in  the 
United  States. 

The  geological  characteristics  of  the  White  Mountains 
are  chiefly  interesting  from  the  fact  that  they  exhibit  the 
operations  of  Nature  on  a  grand  scale.  The  rock  is  gener- 
ally granite,  sometimes  capped,  as  ou  the  summit  of  Mount 
Washington,  with  coarse  mica  slate.  No  minex'als  of  much 
value  or  rarity  have  been  found  here,  and  no  evidences 
of  volcanic  action  have  been  discovered.  It  is  altogether 
probable  that  the  mountains  have  for  ages  exhibited  the 
same  unvarying  appearance. 

The  sides  of  the  mountains,  as  well  as  most  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  are  thickly  covered  with  trees,  which  in 
autumn  present  a  most  beautifully  variegated  appearance. 
The  summits  of  the  higher  elevations  are  destitute  of  vege- 
tation, excepting  a  few  mosses  and  plants  of  alpine  spe- 
cies. For  eight  or  ten  months  in  the  year  they  are  covered 
with  snow,  giving  them  thyt  bright  and  dazzling  appearance 
from  which  they  derive  their  name. 

Many  of  the  finest  rivers  of  New  England  originate 
among  these  highlands.  The  Saco  flows  from  the  east  side 
of  the  mountains,  the  tributaries  of  the  Androscoggin 
from  the  north,  the  Ammonoosuc  and  other  branches  of  the 
Connecticut  from  the  west,  and  the  Pemigewasset  from  the 
south.     The  fountain  of  the  latter  is  near  that  of  the  Saco. 


THE   WHITE    MOUNTAINS.  473 

The  height  of  the  mountains  has  been  variously  estimat- 
ed. The  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  who,  with  several  others,  visited 
the  mountains  and  made  a  series  of  observations  in  1784, 
fixed  the  height  of  Mount  Washington  at  10,000  feet, 
which  Dr.  Belknap  supposed  would  prove  too  low  an  esti- 
mate. Other  and  later  computations  have  given  results 
much  less  than  this.  Dr.  Jackson,  while  engaged  in  the 
geological  survey  of  the  state,  made  a  series  of  observa- 
tions under  favorable  circumstances,  from  which  he  calcu- 
lated it  to  be  6226  feet  above  the  high  water  mark  in 
Portsmouth  Harbor.  The  height  of  several  of  the  other 
summits  is  estimated  as  follows  :  Mount  Adams,  5759  feet ; 
Mount  Jefferson,  5657  ;  Mount  Madison,  5415  ;  Mount 
Monroe,  5349  ;  Mount  Franklin,  4850 ;  Mount  Pleasant, 
4715. 

Of  these  Mount  Washington  is  easily  known  by  its  su- 
perior elevation,  and  by  its  being  the  southern  of  the  three 
highest  summits.  Mount  Adams  is  known  by  its  sharp  ter- 
minating peak,  and  by  its  being  the  second  north  of  Mount 
Washington.  Mount  Jefferson  is  situated  between  these 
two.  Mount  ]\ladison  is  the  eastern  peak  of  the  range. 
Mount  Monroe  is  the  first  south  of  Mount  Washington. 
Mount  Franklin  is  the  second  south,  and  is  known  by  its 
level  surface.  Mount  Pleasant  is  known  by  its  conical 
shape,  and  by  its  being  the  third  south  of  jNlount  Wash- 
ington. 

The  ascent  of  the  mountains,  though  fatiguing,  is  by  no 
means  difficult  or  dangerous.  There  are  two  or  three 
points  from  which  the  summit  of  Mount  Washington  can 
be  ascended  by  horses.  The  prospect  from  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, over  which  one  of  these  routes  passes,  though  inferior 
in  extent  and  grandeur  to  that  from  Mount  Washington, 
is  in  some  respects  more  satisfactory,  as  the  objects  viewed 
40* 


^4  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

are  generally  nearer  and  more  distinct.  The  top  of  this 
mountain  is  smooth,  and  gradually  slopes  away  in  every 
direction  from  the  centre.  It  is  every  where  covered  with 
short  tufts  of  grass,  interspersed  here  and  there  with  moun- 
tain flowers,  which  give  life  and  beauty  to  the  scene.  From 
this  point  the  summit  of  Mount  Washington  is  in  full  view 
to  the  north-east,  being  distant  about  three  miles  in  a 
straight  line.  To  the  north-west  are  seen  the  settlements 
in  Jefferson  ;  Avest,  the  courses  of  the  Ammonoosuc,  as 
though  delineated  on  a  map ;  to  the  south-west  the  Moose- 
hillock  and  Haystack  are  visible ;  south,  Chocorua  Peak  ; 
south-east,  the  settlements  and  mountains  in  Bartlett;  while 
to  the  east  are  seen  only  dark  mountains  and  forests.  Pass- 
ing from  this  place  over  Mount  Pranklin  and  the  eastern  part 
of  Mount  Monroe,  the  traveller  reaches  a  plain  of  consid- 
erable extent  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Washington.  There 
are  here  several  ponds  and  springs,  the  largest  of  which  is 
a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  of  an  oval  form,  covering  about 
three  fourths  of  an  acre.  The  waters  are  clear  and  pleas- 
ant to  the  taste.  The  pinnacle  of  Mount  Washington,  ele- 
vated 1500  feet  above  this  plain,  stands  in  majestic  gran- 
deur, like  an  immense  pyramid,  or  some  vast  Kremlin  in 
this  city  of  mountains. 

The  view  from  Mount  Washington  has  been  well  de- 
scribed by  a  traveller  as  follows  :  — 

"  From  the  summit,  if  the  day  be  clear,  is  afforded  a  view 
unequalled,  perhaps,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  North 
American  continent.  Around  you  in  every  direction  are 
confused  masses  of  mountains,  bearing  the  appearance  of  a 
sea  of  molten  lava  suddenly  cooled  whilst  its  ponderous 
waves  were  yet  in  commotion.  On  the  south-east  horizon 
gleams  a  rim  of  silver  light ;  it  is  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  65 
miles  distant,  laving  the  shores  of  Maine.     Lakes  of  all 


i 


THE   WHITE    MOimTAINS. 


UNTA 


m 


sizes,  from  Lake  Winnipiseogee  to  mere  mountain  ponds, 
and  mountains  beneath  you,  gleam  misty  and  wide."  Far  off 
to  the  north-east  is  Mount  Katahdin.  In  the  western  hori- 
zon are  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  and  to  the  south 
and  south-west  are  Mount  Monadnock  and  Kearsarge,  while 
the  space  between  is  filled  up  with  every  variety  of  land- 
scape—  mountain  and  hill,  plain  and  valley,  lake  and  river. 

The  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains  is  the  name  applied 
to  a  very  narrow  defile  extending  two  miles  in  length  be- 
tween two  huge  cliffs,  apparently  rent  asunder  by  some 
convulsion  of  nature.  The  mountain,  otherwise  a  contin- 
uous range,  is  here  cleft  asunder,  affording  a  passage  for 
the  waters  of  the  Saco.  Through  this  defile  a  road  has 
been  constructed,  following  the  course  of  the  stream.  At 
the  so\ithern  extremity  the  mountain  Avails  on  each  side  are 
regular  and  parallel,  but  towards  the  north  they  become 
irregular  and  much  lower.  The  road  gradually  ascends 
from  the  south,  and  the  passage  grows  narrower  until  it 
terminates  at  its  northern  extremity  in  the  Gate  of  the 
Notch.  The  distance  between  the  perpendicular  rocks  on 
each  side  of  the  chasm  at  this  point  is  only  22  feet,  af- 
fording barely  sufficient  room  for  the  river  and  the  road. 

About  half  a  mile  below  the  northern  entrance  of  the 
Notch  is  seen  a  most  beautiful  cascade,  issuing  from  a 
mountain  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  subjacent  valley,  on 
the  right  as  you  ascend  from  the  south.  The  stream  passes 
over  a  series  of  rocks  nearly  perpendicular,  with  a  course 
so  little  broken  as  to  preserve  the  appearance  of  a  uniform 
current,  and  yet  so  much  disturbed  as  to  appear  perfectly 
white.  When  swollen  by  rains  it  presents  a  magnificent  ap- 
pearance. It  was  called  by  Dr.  Dwight  the  Silver  Cascade. 
Further  up  on  the  road,  to  the  left,  is  a  smaller  branch 
of  the  Saco,  falling  over  three  precipices  some  250  feet. 


^.*« 


*-^ 


476  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

The  Notch  was  once  the  scene  of  a  fearful  catastrophe, 
which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  an  entire  family.  The 
old  Notch  Tavern,  now  called  the  Willey  House,  stood  on 
the  westerly  side  of  the  road  in  the  Notch,  at  the  foot  of 
an  abrupt  elevatiou  2000  feet  in  height.  Adjoining  the 
house  were  a  barn  and  wood  house,  in  front  was  a  beavitiful 
little  meadow,  and  along  the  eastern  precipice  flowed  the 
Saco.  This  house  was  occupied,  in  1826,  by  Captain  Sam- 
uel Willey  and  his  family,  consisting  t)f  his  wife,  five  chil- 
dren, and  two  men  named  Nickerson  and  Allen.  In  the 
month  of  June  an  avalanche,  or  slide,  came  down  from  the 
mountain,  and  crossed  the  road,  a  few  rods  north  of  the 
house,  which  led  Captain  Willey  to  prepare  a  place 
of  refuge  to  which  they  might  flee  in  case  there  should 
be  signs  of  another  slide.  On  the  28th  of  August,  af- 
ter several  successive  days  of  rainy  weather,  there  were 
closing  showers,  in  which  the  rain  poured  down  in  tor- 
rents, raising  the  rivers  to  an  unusual  height,  and  caus- 
ing numerous  slides  among  the  mountains.  A  traveller, 
passing  through  the  Notch  a  day  or  two  after,  found  the 
house  deserted.  An  immense  slide,  coming  down  directly 
in  the  rear  of  the  house,  had  been  divided  by  a  huge  block 
of  granite  about  five  rods  distant,  and  passing  on  each  side 
of  the  house  had  again  united  in  front.  The  barn  and 
other  out-buildings  were  destroyed  ;  the  house  alone  es- 
caped unharmed.  But  the  family  had  left  this,  the  only 
place  of  safety,  and  in  attempting  to  flee  were  overwhelmed 
by  the  moving  mass.  The  bodies  of  six  of  them  were  dis- 
covered not  long  after.  The  house  which  they  occupied 
is  still  standing,  in  a  good  state  of  repair.  The  meadow 
was  covered  with  stones  and  gravel,  and  the  road,  together 
with  the  valley,  was  elevated  for  a  considerable  distance. 
The  course  of  the  river  was  changed. 


KOUTES    TO   THE    WHITE    MOUNTAINS.  477 


ROUTES  TO  THE  WHITE  MOUNTAINS,  PUBLIC  HOUSES,  &c.« 

1.  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad.  —  This 
railroad,  with  its  various  connections  at  Concord,  presents 
a  favorable  route  to  those  who  Avish  to  enjoy  the  beautiful 
scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee.  Leaving 
the  cars  at  the  Weirs,  thirty-three  miles  from  Concord, 
visitors  take  the  steamboat  "  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  and  pro- 
ceed ten  miles,  to  Centre  Harbor.  From  this  place  the 
distance  to  the  White  Mountain  Notch,  via  Conway,  is 
sixty-two  miles.  The  route  from  Centre  Harbor  to  Con- 
way by  stage  is  extremely  pleasant,  commanding  a  view  of 
much  fine  scenery.  At  the  latter  place  is  a  first-class  hotel, 
called  the  "  Conway  House,"  under  the  charge  of  Mr. 
Fabyan,  proprietor  of  the  "Mount  Washington  House." 
Twenty-four  miles  from  Conway  is  the  "  Mount  Crawford 
House,"  or  "Old  Crawford's,"  the  late  residence  of  Abel 
Crawford,  the  "  Patriarch  of  the  Mountains,"  who  died 
here  at  an  advanced  age  in  185  L  The  house  is  kept  by 
Mr.  Davis,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Crawford.  It 
is  a  favorite  resort  of  anglers  and  sportsmen.  Horses  can 
be  obtained  here  to  ascend  Mount  Crawford,  and  from  its 
summit,  over  a  range  of  hills,  to  the  top  of  Mount  Wash- 
ington. Six  miles  farther  on  is  the  "  Willey  House,"  a 
large  and  well-conducted  hotel,  located  near  the.  old  "  Notch 
Tavern,"  previously  described.  The  "  Crawford  House," 
or  "  Tom  Crawford's,"  is  two  miles  from  this  place,  near 
the  Gate  of  the  Notch.  From  this  place  is  a  bridle  path  to 
the  summit  of  Mount  Washington,  passing  over  Mount 
Pleasant,  &c.,  as  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article.  This 
house  is  admirably  conducted  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Gibb.     It  com- 

•  Se«  White  Mountain  GvitU. 


41^8  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS.  " 

mands  a  view  of  the  Notch,  and  of  most  of  the  principal 
mountains  in  the  range.  Fabyan's  well-known  "  Mount 
Washington  House  "  is  four  miles  farther  on.  It  is  a  large, 
well-conducted,  and  spacious  hotel,  commanding  an  impos- 
ing view  of  Mount  Washington,  which  is  ascended  from 
this  point,  there  being  two  bridle  paths  a  part  of  the  way. 
White's  Hotel  is  a  neat  and  comfortable  public  house,  half 
a  mile  distant,  where  horses  and  a  guide  may  be  obtained 
to  ascend  the  mountains. 

Those  who  wish  to  pass  through  Franconia  before  visit- 
ing the  White  Mountains  can  take  the  cars  for  Plymouth, 
fifty-one  miles,  and  from  thence  by  stage  twenty-four  miles 
to  the  "Flume  House,"  an  excellent  hotel,  kept  by  Mr. 
Taft.  In  this  vicinity  are  the  "  Flume,"  "  Pool,"  and  "  Ba- 
sin." Six  miles  farther  on  is  the  "Lailiyctte  House,"  a 
good  hotel,  kept  by  Mr.  Cobleigh,  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  which  are  the  Profile,  or  "  Old  Man  of  the  jNIountain," 
and  Echo  Lake.  The  hoiise  is  romantically  situated  •  near 
the  entrance  of  the  Franconia  Notch.  At  this  place,  as 
well  as  at  the  Flume  House,  horses  can  be  obtained  t© 
ascend  Mount  Lafayette,  which  is  only  some  five  hundred 
feet  loAver  than  Mount  Washington.  For  a  description  of 
these  curiosities,  see  Gazetteer,  under  Franconia. 

The  distance  from  Gibb's  to  Fabyan's  is  about  twenty 
miles,  the  road,  passing  through  Bethlehem. 

2.  Connefiticut  and  Passumpsic  River  and  White  Moun- 
tain Railroads.  —  Visitors  passing  up  the  valley  of  the 
Connecticut  by  the  former  road  and  its  connections  take 
the  cars  of  the  White  ^lountain  llailroad,  at  Wells  River, 
and  proceed  to  Littleton.  The  remainder  of  the  distance 
—  to  Fabyan's  —  is  accomplished  by  stage.  The  road 
follows  the  course  of  the  Ammonoosuc. 

3.  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  Railroad.  — Visitors  from 


EDUCATION.  479 


Portland  and  Boston  by  way  of  this  route  usually  stop  at 
the  "Gorham  Station  House,"  a  large,  commodious,  and 
well-managed  house,  kept  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hitchcock.  From 
this  place  a  road  has  been  laid  out  to  the  summit  of  Mount 
Washington,  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain. 

4.  Cocheco  Railroad  and  Winnipiseogee  Lake.  —  There 
is  a  route  from  Dover  to  Alton  Bay  by  the  Cocheco  Rail- 
road, from  thence  to  Wolfborough  by  steamboat,  from 
that  place  to  Conway  by  stage,  and  so  on  as  in  the  first- 
mentioned  route. 

EDUCATION. 

Common  School  System.  —  The  people  of  New  Hamp- 
shire early  turned  their  attention  to  the  subject  of  educa- 
tion. The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  passed  a  law, 
in  1647,  establishing  a  system  of  public  schools.  This 
law  extended  to  the  inhabitants  of  NeAv  Hampshire,  which 
was  then  united  to  that  colony.  It  does  not  appear  that 
the  interests  of  learning  were  ever  lost  sight  of,  though  the 
poverty  and  distress  of  the  people,  occasioned,  or  at  least 
increased,  by  their  many  severe  conflicts  with  the  Indians, 
prevented  the  full  accomplishment  of  their  laudable  de- 
signs. The  first  law  relating  to  schools  passed  by  New 
Hampshii'e  after  it  became  an  independent  province  was 
enacted  in  1693,  in  the  midst  of  a  bloody  struggle  with 
the  French  and  Indians.  This  law  provided  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  school  in  every  town,  subjecting  those  to  a 
penalty  of  ten  pounds  which  should  fail  to  comply  with  its 
requirements.  Other  laws  relating  to  this  subject  were 
passed  from  time  to  time,  as  the  exigencies  of  the  public 
seemed  to  demand. 

"  The  old  laws  of  New  Hampshire,"  says  Dr.  Belknap, 


480  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

writing  in  1792,  "  required  every  town  of  one  hundred 
inhabitants  to  keep  a  grammar  school,  by  which  was  meant 
a  school  in  which  the  learned  languages  should  be  taught, 
and  youth  might  be  prepared  for  admission  to  a  university. 
The  same  preceptor  was  obliged  to  teach  reading,  writing, 
and  arithmetic,  vmless  the  town  Avere  of  sufficient  ability  to 
keep  two  or  more  schools,  one  of  which  was  called  a  gram- 
mar school,  by  way  of  distinction."  But  these  laws  were 
not  always  carried  into  effect.  Sometimes  the  frontier 
towns,  on  account  of  the  great  exertions  they  were  com- 
pelled to  make  for  self-defence,  were  exempted,  by  a  special 
act  of  the  Assembly,  from  the  obligation  to  maintain  a 
grammar  school ;  and  instances  were  not  wholly  unknown 
in  which  there  was  a  culpable  neglect  of  duty  on  the  part 
of  other  towns,  either  by  evasion,  or  by  direct  violation  of 
the  statutes.  Still,  when  we  take  into  consideration  all  the 
circumstances  of  the  case,  the  small  number  of  inhabitants, 
their  poverty,  their  exposed  situation,  and  their  numerous 
contests  with  a  deadly  foe,  we  are  the  more  astonished  that 
they  should  have  accomplished  so  much. 

The  present  public  school  system  of  our  state  is  well 
devised,  and  is  calcidated  to  give  every  one  an  opportunity 
to  acquire  a  good  common  education.  The  laws  require 
each  town  to  raise  at  least  "one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
dollars  for  every  dollar  of  the  public  taxes  apportioned  to 
said  town,  and  so  for  a  greater  or  less  sum,"  which  is  to 
be  appropriated  to  the  purpose  of  supporting  the  schools 
of  the  town.  Each  town  may  divide  itself  into  school 
districts,  and  apportion  the  money  among  them  according 
to  its  own  pleasure.  The  town  is  also  required  to  elect  at 
its  annual  meeting  a  superintending  school  committee,  con- 
sisting of  one  or  three  persons,  whose  duty  it  is  to  exercise 
a  general   supervision   over   the   schools   of  the  town,  to 


I 


EDUCATION.  481 

visit  and  examine  them,  and  to  examine  teachers.  No 
teacher  is  allowed  to  commence  a  school  until  he  shall  have 
been  examined  and  approved  by  the  superintending  com- 
mittee. The  district  is  required  to  choose  a  prudential 
committee,  whose  duty  it  is  to  employ  teachers,  and  to 
exercise  a  general  supervision  over  the  interests  of  the  dis- 
trict. The  branches  ordinarily  taught  in  the  common 
schools  aie  reading,  writing,  English  grammajf  arithmetic, 
and  geography. 

Any  district  wishing  to  support  a  higher  grade  of 
schools  can  do  so  by  adopting  the  "  Somersvrorth  Act,"  *  so 
called.  This  takes  the  control  of  the  school  entirely  from 
the  hands  of  the  town  committee,  and  gives  the  district 
power  to  choose  their  own  superintending  as  well  as  pru- 
dential committee  —  the  former  to  consist  of  not  less  than  five 
nor  more  than  seven  persons.  Any  district  adopting  this  act 
may  establish  and  maintain  one  or  more  high  schools,  and 
if  they  have  not  less  than  one  hundred  scholars,  may  raise  ■ 
money  at  their  discretion  for  the  support  of  such  schools. 

Any  two  or  more  contiguous  districts  may  unite  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  a  high  school  or  schools,  or  any  sin- 
gle district  in  which  the  number  of  scholars  exceeds  one 
hundred,  may  establish  such  schools.  This  last  provision 
is  not  intended  to  interfere  with  those  which  may  adopt 
either  of  the  other  acts.  In  large  districts  much  advantage 
is  derived  from  a  suitable  gradation  and  classification  of 
the  scholars,  even  though  a  regular  high  school  may  not  be 
established. 

In  addition  to  the  amount  raised  by  a  public  tax  for  the 
support  of  schools,  every  banking  corporation  in  the  state 

•  A  law  passed  in  ISiS,  a;iviiig  a  certain  district  in  Somersworth  power  to 
establish  a  hi^li  school,  and  aftcrward-s  amended  so  as  to  apply  to  any  district 
which  should  adopt  the  same. 

41 


482  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

18  required  to  pay  to  the  state  treasurer  a  sum  equal  to  one 
half  per  cent,  of  its  capital  stock,  for  the  same  purpose. 
This  is  called  the  Literary  Fund,  and  is  divided  annually 
among  the  several  towns,  according  to  the  number  of  schol- 
ars reported  as  having  attended  school,  during  the  year 
preceding  the  time  of  division,  not  less  than  two  weeks. 

The  several  towns  are  required  to  appropriate  a  sura 
equal  to  three  per  cent,  of  the  amount  by  law  required 
to  be  raised  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  which  is 
to  be  expended  bj  the  county  cojnmissioner  for  the  support 
of  Teachers'  Institutes  within  the  county. 

The  governor  and  council  are  required  to  appoint  annu- 
ally a  commissioner  of  common  schools  in  each  county  in 
the  state,  who,  in  their  associate  capacity,  constitute  a 
board  of  education,  with  power  to  choose  a  chairman  and 
secretary.  It  is  the  duty  of  each  commissioner  to  spend 
not  less  than  one  day  in  the  course  of  the  year  in  each 
town  in  his  county,  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  the  in- 
terests of  education,  by  addresses,  inquiries,  and  other 
means  that  circumstances  may  require.  It  is  also  his  duty 
to  take  charge  of  any  Teachers'  Institutes  that  may  be  lield 
in  the  county,  and  to  make  report  of  his  doings  to  the  sec- 
retary of  the  boai'd. 

The  board  of  education  have  power  to  recommend 
school  books,  and  methods  of  instruction  and  discipline 
suitable  to  be  pursued  in  common  schools.  They  are  re- 
quired to  make  a  report  annually  embracing  such  infor- 
mation and  suggestions  as  may  seem  to  them  useful.  From 
the  report  for  1854,  made  through  the  secretary,  Hon. 
Hall  Roberts,  the  following  statistics  are  copied  :  — 

Number  of  school  districts  reported,  2294.  Do.  schol- 
ars, 87,825.  Average  monthly  wages  of  male  teachers, 
exclusive  of  board,  $16.42  ;  do.  females,  $7.18.     Number 


EDUCATIOJJ.  468 

of  male  teachers  in  the  summer  schools,  43  ;  ilo.  females, 
2077.  Number  of  male  teachers  in  the  winter  schools, 
1153  ;  do.  females,  1127.  Amount  raised  by  taxes  for 
schools,  $166,973.88  ;  do.  contributed  in  board,  fuel,  &c.. 
$12,376.68;  do.  of  income  from  school  funds,  $8519.53  ; 
do.  of  railroad  tax  for  schools,  .$4827.68  ;  do.  of  literary 
fund,  $15,576.23;  do.  raised  for  Teachers'  Institutes, 
$4050.00.  Total  raised  for  schools  during  the  year, 
$212,324.00. 

Academies  and  Private  Schools.  —  The  number  of 
incorporated  academies  in  the  state,  as  reported  by  the 
board  of  education,  is  46.  Many  of  these  arc  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition  and  well  sustained.  The  oldest,  and  one 
of  the  most  prosperous,  is  Phillips  Academy  at  Exeter, 
founded  and  endowed  by  Plon.  John  Phillips,  LL.  D.  It 
was  incorporntod  in  1781.  Some  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  which  our  country  has  produced  received  their  early 
training  at  this  institution.     Its  funds  amount  to  $70,000. 

New  Ipswich  Academy  was  incorporated  in  1789.  It 
has  received  large  donations  from  the  late  Hon.  Samuel 
Appleton,  and  is  now  called,  in  honor  of  him,  the  New 
Ipswich  Appleton  Academy. 

Kimball  Union  Academy,  established  at  Plainfield  in 
1813,  has  funds  amounting  to  $40,000,  principally  the 
donation  of  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  Kimball,  the  income  of 
which  is  devoted  chiefly  to  the  support  of  indigent  young 
men  preparing  for  the  ministry. 

Gilmanton  Academy,  at  Gilmanton,  incorporated  in 
1794,  has  a  fund  of  $7000. 

The  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary,  at  North- 
field,  is  under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  denomina- 
rion. 

The  New  London  Literary  and  Scientific  Institution  ha? 


484  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

been  recently  established  at  New  London.  It  is  under  the 
direction  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  is  a  large  number  of  unincor- 
porated institutions  and  private  schools,  many  of  which  do 
good  service  in  the  cause  of  education.  Some  of  them  are 
kept  in  operation  the  entire  year,  others  only  for  a  short 
period  of  time. 

Dartmouth  College. — This  institution  of  learning  was 
founded  in  1769,  by  Eleazar  Wheelock,  a  clergyman  of 
Lebanon,  Connecticut.  Believing  that  much  might  be 
done  for  the  Indians  by  giving  them  the  means  of  acquir- 
ing an  education,  he  received  into  his  family,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  instruction,  several  native  youth,  among  whom 
was  Samson  Cecum,  of  the  Mohegan  nation.  Occum 
proved  to  be  a  person  of  superior  abilities,  which  encour- 
aged Dr.  ^Vlieelock  to  persevere  in  his  efforts  to  spread 
the  gospel  among  the  savages.  But  finding  that  it  was 
difficult  to  accomplish  this  by  means  of  white  missionaries, 
he  conceived  the  plan  of  founding  a  school  at  which  he 
might  receive  Indian  boys,  and  prepare  them  for  mission- 
aries and  teachers.  In  pursuance  of  his  design,  he  re- 
ceived into  his  family,  in  1754,  two  boys  of  the  Delaware 
nation. 

The  school  soon  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
public,  and  to  receive  the  aid  of  the  charitable.  In  1763 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  voted  that  they  would 
bear  the  expense  of  the  education,  board,  and  clothing  of 
six  children  of  the  Six  Nations  for  one  year.  They  were 
accordingly  selected,  and  admitted  to  the  school. 

Among  the  early  benefactors  of  the  school  was  Mr. 
Joshua  Moor,  of  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  who  gave  a  school 
house  and  about  two  acres  of  land.  In  honor  of  him,  the 
institution  was  named  Moor's  Indian  Charity  School. 


EDUCATION.  485 

Meanwhile  the  school  continued  to  prosper.  Many  emi- 
nent men  and  benevolent  societies  both  in  Great  Britain 
and  America  made  liberal  donations  to  it ;  but  the  increased 
expenses  called  for  new  exertions  on  the  part  of  its  friends. 
For  the  purpose  of  gaininj^  more  assistance,  Dr.  Wheelock 
sent  Occum,  with  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Whitaker,  of  Nor- 
wich, to  Great  Britain.  Occuin  was  the  first  Indian  min- 
ister who  had  ever  visited  that  country,  and,  as  might 
have  been  expected,  attracted  considerable  attention.  He 
preached  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  England  and  Scot- 
land with  great  success.  Between  9000  and  10,000 
pounds  sterling  were  collected,  and  a  board  of  trustees  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  funds,  tt)  be  drawn  by  Dr.  Whee- 
lock, as  he  should  have  need.  Of  this  board  the  Right 
Hon.  William  Lcgge,  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  was  president. 

Dr.  Wheelock  now  determined  to  establish  a  college  in 
connection  with  his  school.  But  as  there  was  already  a 
flourishing  institution  of  that  kind  in  Connecticut,  it  was 
deemed  expedient  to  locate  it  elsewhere.  Moreover,  the 
progress  of  civilization  had  driven  the  Indians  from  his 
immediate  vicinity,  and  it  was  thought  that  by  removing  to 
the  wilderness  he  might  more  successfully  carry  out  his 
views.  After  listening  to  various  proposals,  and  consult- 
ing the  trustees  in  England,  he  fixed  upon  the  western 
part  of  New  Hampshire  as  the  most  suitable  locality  for 
the  infant  college,  though  he  did  not  then  decide  upon  the 
precise  spot. 

The  next  step  was  to  obtain  a  charter,  which  was  granted 
by  John  Wentworth,  the  royal  governor  of  the  province, 
in  the  name  of  George  III.,  ordaining  "that  there  be  a 
college  erected  in  our  said  province  of  New  Hampshire, 
by  the  name  of  Dartmouth  College,  for  the  education  and 
instruction  of  youth  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  this  land  in 
41* 


486  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

reading,  writing,  and  all  parts  of  learning  which  shall 
appear  necessary  and  expedient  for  civilizing  and  Christian- 
izing children  of  pagans,  as  well  as  in  all  liberal  arts  and 
sciences;  and  also  of  English  youth  and  any  others." 
This  was  dated  December  13,  1769.  In  the  same  instru- 
ment Dr.  Wheelock  was  appointed  president.  A  grant  of 
five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Hanover  had  been  previously 
given  to  the  college,  and  at  this  time  the  entire  township 
of  LandafF  was  also  granted  to  it.  Other  donations,  both 
of  land  and  money,  were  made  by  various  individuals  in 
New  Hampshire  and  in  the  eastern  part  of  Vermont,  then 
called  the  New  Hampshire  Grants. 

In  the  spring  of  1770,' Dr.  Wheelock,  with  two  com- 
panions, set  out  on  an  exploring  tour,  in  order  to  choose  the 
most  eligible  place  for  the  college  and  school.  After  visit- 
ing sevei'al  proposed  localities,  he  finally  selected  Hanover ; 
and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  removed  thither 
with  his  family  and  pupils,  making  in  all  about  seventy 
persons.  There  were  no  accommodations,  excepting  two 
or  three  log  houses.  The  location  was  an  extensive  plain, 
shaded  with  a  growth  of  lofty  pines.  Upon  a  few  acres 
the  trees  had  been  felled  previously  to  his  arrival.  They 
immediately  set  to  work  to  build  dwellings,  and  also  a  col- 
lege edifice ;  but  the  autumnal  rains  setting  in  early  hin- 
dered their  progress.  During  the  winter  they  were  exjjosed 
to  many  hardships ;  yet  it  is  stated  that,  "  in  this  secluded 
retreat,  and  in  these  humble  dwellings,  this  enterprising 
colony  passed  a  long  and  dreary  winter.  The  students 
pursued  their  studies  with  diligence;  contentment  and 
peace  were  not  interrupted  even  by  murmurs."  During 
the  next  summer  various  improvements  were  made,  and 
the  wilderness  soon  began  *'  to  bud  antl  blossom  like  the 
rose." 


EDUCATIOM.  48T 

The  first  commencement  was  held  in  August,  1771, 
when  four  young  men  received  the  first  honors  of  the  col- 
lege. For  some  years,  in  addition  to  Indians  in  the  school 
and  college,  a  number  of  English  youth  were  supported 
wholly  or  in  part  by  the  funds,  with  the  understanding 
that  they  should  go  as  missionaries  when  they  had  com- 
pleted their  course  of  study.  But  the  difficulties  that 
sprang  up  between  America  and  the  mother  country  pre- 
vented the  accomplishment  of  their  benevolent  purposes, 
as  the  Indians  relused  to  admit  them  to  their  territory. 
But  few  of  the  Indians  educated  by  Dr.  Wheelock  became 
missionaries,  though  many  of  them  proved  useful  as  teachers 
and  interpreters. 

In  the  mean  time  the  commencement  of  hostilities  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  American  colonies  seriously 
embarrassed  the  operations  of  the  college  by  depriving  it 
of  its  expected  support.  But  in  this  extremity,  Hon.  John 
Phillips,  of  Exeter,  made  a  liberal  donation.  The  Continent- 
al Congress  also  made  a  grant  of  ^500.  From  these  and 
other  sources  sufficient  means  were  obtained  to  keep  the 
college  in  operation  during  the  war.  But  Dr.  Wheelock 
did  not  live  to  see  the  return  of  peace.  He  died  on  the 
24th  of  April,  1779,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John  Wheelock,  then  a 
colonel  in  the  United  States  army. 

On  the  cessation  of  hostilities  President  Wheelock  re- 
solved to  visit  England  to  solicit  aid  for  the  institutions  un- 
dej:  his  care.  In  this  he  met  with  a  tolerable  degree  of 
success.  In  1785  the  legislature  of  Vermont  granted  the 
entire  township  of  Wheelock  to  the  college  and  school. 
The  next  year  a  new  college  building  ^vas  commenced. 

After  the  revolutionary  war  it  was  found  that  the  title 
of  the  college  to  the  township  of  Landaff,  which  had  been 


488  NE^'    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

granted  to  it  by  Governor  Wentworth,  was  precarious.  It 
had  been  previously  granted  to  others  by  a  former  govern- 
or; but,  as  they  did  not  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  charter, 
it  was  declared  forfeited,  and  afterwards  granted  to  the 
college.  But  after  the  war  the  first  grantees  renewed  their 
claim,  and  finally  recovered  possession  of  this  township. 
The  state,  however,  made  other  grants  to  the  college,  which 
more  than  compensated  for  the  loss. 

The  college  continued  under  the  care  of  President  Whee- 
lock  until  1815,  when  he  was  removed  by  the  trustees, 
with  whom  he  had  been  having  difficulties  for  a  considera- 
ble time.  In  the  mean  time  a  committee  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislature  to  examine  into  the  state  of  af- 
fairs at  the  college,  and  report  accordingly.  This  was  done 
in  1816,  and  an  act  was  then  passed  altering  the  charter  of 
the  college,  increasing  the  trustees  from  twelve  to  twenty- 
one,  appointing  a  board  of  overseers,  and  changing  the  name 
of  the  institution  to  Dartmouth  University.  A  majority 
of  the  trustees,  however,  together  with  President  Brown, 
the  successor  of  John  Wheelock,  and  Professors  Shurt- 
lefF  and  Adams,  refused  to  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  the  act,  and  appealed  to  the  judicial  tribunals.  Mean- 
while the  university  was  organized,  and  took  possession  of 
the  buildings  and  apparatus ;  but  the  officers  of  the  college 
continued  their  instructions  in  private  rooms.  In  18 IT  the 
case  was  decided  in  the  Superior  Court  of  New  Hamp- 
shire in  favor  of  the  university.  The  case  was  then  car- 
ried to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  which,  on 
the  2d  of  February,  1819,  reversed  the  whole  proceed- 
ings, and  declared  the  act  of  the  state  null  and  void,  thus 
placing  the  college  in  a  firm  position  by  relieving  it  from 
the  fear  of  legislative  interference. 

The  New  Hampshire  Medical  Institution  was  established, 


EDUCATION.  489 

in  connection  with  the  college,  in  1797,  and  is  still  in  suc- 
cessful operation.  The  annual  course  of  lectures  begins  on 
the  Thursday  succeeding  commencement,  and  continues 
14  weeks. 

The  Chandler  Scientific  School  was  founded  by  Abiel 
Chandler,  Esq.,  late  of  Walpole,  who  bequeathed  to  the  trus- 
tees of  the  college  the  sum  of  ^50,000,  in  trust,  "  for  the 
establishment  and  support  of  a  permanent  department,  or 
school  of  instruction,  in  the  college,  in  the  practical  and 
useful  arts  of  life."  This  department  was  organized  and 
put  into  operation  in  1852. 

Moor's  Charity  School  was  long  kept  in  operation  in 
connection  with  the  college,  and  under  the  direction  of  the 
president ;  but  it  is  at  the  present  time  suspended. 

The  institution  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition.  With- 
in the  last  year  (1854)  a  fine  observatory  has  been  erected 
and  furnished  with  instruments,  through  the  munificence 
of  George  C.  Shattuck,  LL.  D.,  late  of  Boston.  The  va- 
rious libraries  connected  with  the  college  contain  upwards 
of  30,000  volumes.  The  ilxculty  of  the  institution,  in- 
cluding the  medical  department,  consists  of  the  president 
and  14  acting  professors.  Number  of  the  alumni,  2825. 
Do.  medical  graduates,  844.  Do,  undergraduates  in  1854, 
252.  Do.  medical  students,  63.  Do.  in  the  Chandler  de- 
partment, 38.  Commencement  is  on  the  last  Thursday  in 
July. 

SUCCESSION    OF    PRESIDENTS. 
Accessus.  Exitus. 

1769.  Eleazar  Wheelock,  D.  D.,  1779. 

1779.  .  John  Wheelock,  LL.  D.  1815. 

1815.  Francis  Brown,  D.  D.  1820. 

1820.  Daniel  Dana,  D.  D.  1821. 

1822.  Bennett  Tyler,  D.  D  1828. 

1828.  Nathan  Lord,  D.  D. 


4^  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

We  cannot  close  our  brief  sketch  more  appropriately 
than  by  quoting  a  few  extracts  from  the  speech  of  Profess- 
or Brown,  made  at  the  second  festival  of  the  Sons  of  New 
-Hampshire,  celebrated  in  Boston,  November  2,  1853. 
Referring  to  Dartmouth  College,  he  says,*  — 

"  She  was  not  founded  for  New  Hampshire  alone.  Es- 
tablished with  no  seclusive  policy  or  purpose,  and  conse- 
crated as  she  was,  from  the  beginning,  to  the  two  great  ob- 
jects of  being  a  handmaid  of  religion  and  a  mistress  of 
learning,  that  both  might  be  diffused,  each  moving  in  har- 
mony with  the  other,  she  has  gathered  her  sons  from  various 
regions,  and  invigorating  their  bodies  by  the  fresh  air  of 
the  mountains,  and  their  minds  by  the  discipline  of  her 
studies,  she  has  sent  them  forth  in  due  time,  east,  west, 
north,  and  south,  through  every  state,  all  over  the  world. 
She  might  ask  you  to  accompany  her,  as  with  a  mother's 
pride  she  followed  one  and  another  in  his  path  through 
life.  She  would  take  you  beyond  the  seas,  and  point  you 
to  some  standing  before  kings  as  the  representatives  of 
their  country ;  to  others  on  the  shores  of  the  Bosphorus,  in 
India,  in  China,  and  the  Sandwich  Islands,  laboring  with  a 
man's  energy  in  the  noblest  of  moral  enterprises,  solving 
the  grandest  of  problems,  to  make  a  Christian  and  intelli- 
gent nation  out  of  a  people  superstitious,  ignorant,  and 
degraded.  She  would  point  you  to  still  others  establishing 
the  schools  and  incipient  colleges,  and  directing  the  print- 
ing presses  of  Oregon  and  California.  Leading  you  back 
from  the  great  circuit,  she  would  pause  in  every  state  in 
the  Union,  and  name  the  writers,  the  jurists,  the  senators, 
in  whose  breeding  she  had  some  share  ;  and,  finally,  end- 
ing where  she  began,  she  would  take  you,  in  her  sorrow 
and  pride,  every  24th   of  October,  down  to  the  sea  side, 

*  Second  New  Hampshire  Festival,  p.  96. 


•  RELIGION.  4^1 

that  you  might  bend  in  reverent  aflection,  and  meditate  be- 
side the  grave  of  her  greatest  son." 

RELIGION. 

The  constitution  of  New  Hampshire  guaranties  to  every 
individual  the  right  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  his  own  conscience,  provided  he  does  not  disturb 
the  pubUc  peace,  or  disturb  others  in  their  religious  wor- 
ship. In  July,  1819,  the  memorable  act  called  the  tolera- 
tion law  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  which  provides  that 
no  person  shall  be  compelled  to  join,  or  support,  or  be 
classed  with,  or  associated  to,  any  church  or  reHgious  soci- 
ety, without  his  express  consent  first  had  and  obtained,  and 
that  any  person  may  withdraw  from  a  society  of  which  he 
is  a  member  by  leaving  a  written  notice  with  the  clerk  of 
the  same. 

The  following  notices  comprise  accounts  of  all  the  prin- 
cipal denominations  found  within  the  limits  of  our  state  : — • 

(Orthodox)  Congregationalists*  —  The  organization  of 
the  first  Congregational  church  in  New  Hampshire  was  in 
1638,  18  years  subsequent  to  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  at  Plymouth.  It  is  an  unsettled  question  whether 
the  first  church  was  that  at  Exeter,  of  which  the  celebrated 
John  Wlieelwright  was  pastor,  or  that  at  Hampton,  of 
which  the  Rev.  Stephen  Bachilor  was  pastor.  Both  doubt- 
less were  formed  in  1638  —  the  latter  in  the  fall  of  that 
y^ar.  Settlements  had  previously  been  begun  at  Dover 
and  Portsmouth.  In  the  former  place  a  meeting  house  was 
erected  as  early  as  1633,  and  William  Leverich,  *'  a  worthy 
and   able  Puritan   minister,"  was   engaged  as  a  preacher. 

*  From  Historical  Discourse  by  Ret.  Mr.  Bouton. 


492  NEW    HAMPSHIRE   AS    IT    IS. 

To  him  succeeded  one  Burditt,  and  then  Hanserd  Knollys, 
or  Knowles,  both  unworthy  men.  But  a  church  was  not 
formed  in  Dover  till  1639,  and  no  pastor  was  regular- 
ly settled  till  1642.  However  it  maybe  a  question  wheth- 
er Wheelwright  of  Exeter  or  Bachilor  of  Hampton  was 
first  in  the  order  of  New  Hampshire  pastors,  it  should  be 
acknowledged  that  the  oldest  church  now  in  existence  in 
the  state  is  that  of  Hampton,  the  first  Exeter  church  be- 
ing dispersed  on  the  removal  of  Wheelwright,  about  four 
years  afterwards,  to  Wells,  in  Maine.  The  only  towns  in 
the  province  in  which  ministers  had  been  settled  previous 
to  1670,  a  half  centuiy  from  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims, 
were  Hampton,  Exeter,  .and  Dover.  Of  the  seven  that 
had  been  pastors  in  those  towns,  only  two  Avere  then  in 
office,  viz.,  Samuel  Dudley,  of  Exeter,  and  Seaborn  Cotton, 
of  Hampton.  In  1671  a  chiu-ch  was  organized,  and  Rev. 
Joshua  Moody  settled  the  same  day,  the  first  minister  of 
Portsmouth,  though  he  had  preached  there  since  1658,  and 
occasional  preaching  had  been  enjoyed  since  1640. 

The  fifth  church  organized  was  at  Dunstable,  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts,  now  the  first  church  in 
Nashua,  and  a  minister  settled  in  1685.  Subsequently 
other  towns  bordering  on  the  sea  coast,  as  New  Castle, 
Newington,  Stratham,  Durham,  Kingston,  and  Rye,  had 
ministej-s.  Thence,  very  gradually,  settlements  were  made 
in  the  interior,  and  ministers  settled,  in  Londonderry, 
(1719,)  Concord,  (1730,)  Chester,  Winchester,  Pembroke, 
Hudson,  and  Keene.  In  the  latter  place  Rev.  Jacob  Ba- 
con was  settled  in  1738,  a  century  after  the  settlements  at 
Exeter  and  Hampton.  He  was  the  55th  pastor  in  order 
settled  in  the  state.  But  at  the  formation  of  the  conven- 
tion in  1747,  there  were  only  about  30  ministers  living. 
The  progress  of  settlements  continued  slow,  extending  into 


RELIGION.  493 

the  interior,  averaging,  till  after  the  revolutionary  war, 
only  about  four  annually  in  tlie  whole  state  ;  but  subsequent- 
ly the  growth  was  more  rapid.  The  number  of  pastors 
living  at  different  periods  in  the  history  of  the  denomina- 
tion, is  as  follows  :  — 

In  1670,  2  ;  1700,  5  :  1747,  30  ;  1776,  65  ;  1800,  76  ; 
1820,  90;  1847,  117. 

At  the  present  time  the  General  Association  reports  as 
follows  :  — 

Number  of  churches,  187.  Do.  ministers,  158.  Do. 
communicants,  20,309.  Total  value  of  church  property 
in  1850,  $527,340. 

The  Congregational  Journal,  a  weekly  paper  published 
at  Concord,  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  thi^  denomination. 

Episcopalians.  —  This  denomination  was  among  the 
earliest  established  in  the  state.  A  church  -was  erected  at 
Portsmouth  prior  to  1638,  and  Rev.  Richard  Gibson  was 
the  first  minister,  who  remained  until  1642. 

Number  of  parishes,  11.  Do.  rectors,  7.  Do.  commu- 
nicants, 572.  Do.  Sabbath  school  children.  364.  Total 
value  of  church  property  in  1850,  $41,100. 

Christians.  —  Number  of  churches  in  1850,  24.  Ag- 
gregate accommodations,  7240.  Total  value  of  church 
property,  $30,350. 

Baptists. — The  tirst  Baptist  church  in  this  state  — 
indeed,  the  first  north  of  Boston  —  was  organized  in  New- 
ton, Rockingham  county,  in  1755.  The  members  were 
separatists  for  "  conscience  sake  "  from  the  Congregational 
church,  and  were  the  fruit  of  the  "  great  awakening  "  un- 
der Whitefield  and  others  in  1740.  Walter  Powers  be- 
came pastor  at  its  organization.  The  centennial  celebration 
will  take  place  in  October,  1855,  in  connection  with  the 
meeting  of  the  Baptist  State  Convention. 
42 


4ji4  NEW    IIAMFSHIKE    AS    IT    IS. 

The  first  Baptist  communicant  known  in  the  state  was 
Rachel  Thuibiir,  of  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  who  became 
Mrs.  Scammon,  and  moved  to  Stratham,  1720.  It  was  the 
result  of  her  labors  that  Dr.  Samuel  Shepherd  became  con- 
nected with  the  denomination  in  1770,  under  whose  inde- 
fatigable labors  the  Brentwood  church  and  its  branches 
were  organized,  in  connection  with  which  he  lived  to  intro- 
duce more  than  600  members. 

More  than  a  century  before  any  Baptist  church  existed 
in  this  state,  Hanserd  Knollys  came  to  this  state,  and  after- 
wards became  an  eminent  Baptist.  Mr.  Knollys  was  grad- 
uated at  Cambridge  College,  England,  and  ordained  by  the 
Bishop  of  Peterborough  in  1629.  Becoming  afterwards  a 
Puritan  minister,  he  came  to  this  country,  and  to  Dover,  in 
this  state,  in  1638.  He  organized  the  first  Congregational 
church  in  Dover,  being  the  second  in  the  state.  In  1641 
he  returned  to  England,  and  organized  a  Baptist  church 
in  London,  where  he  was  eminent  as  a  pious  and  useful 
minister  till  his  death  in  1691.  A  denominational  publish- 
ing society  exists  in  London,  called  by  his  name. 

Number  of  Baptist  churches  is  this  state  in  1755,  1 ; 
1780,  9  ;  1800,  26  ;  1853,  96.  Do.  ordained  ministers  in 
1853,  90.     Do.  communicants,  8376.  • 

About  ^2000  are  annually  expended  for  domestic  mis- 
sions. 

Freewill  Baptists.  —  The  first  church  in  New  Hamp- 
shire of  this  denomination  was  founded  at  New  Durham,  in 
1780,  by  Elder    Benjamin    Randall.     This   denomination 
was  recognized  as  a  distinct  sect  by  an  act  of  the  legisla 
ture,  December  7,  1804. 

The  following  statistics  are  given  as  reported  in  the 
Freewill  Baptist  Register  for  1854  :  — 

Number  of  churches   iu    New    Hampshire,    132.     Do. 


RELIGION.  495 

ordained  ministors,  1S5.  Do.  licentiates,  12.  Do.  com- 
municants, 9751.  Amount  contributed  for  missions  dur- 
ing the  year,  $1644.28. 

The  Freewill  Baptist  printing  establishment  is  located  at 
Dover,  by  which  are  issued  The  Morning  Star,  a  weekly 
paper,  and  The  INIyrtle,  a  semi-monthly  Sabbath  school  pa- 
per. The  profits  of  the  publications  of  this  establishment 
are  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  denomination. 

Friends,  or  Quakers.  —  The  Friends  made  their  appear- 
ance in  New  Hampshire  at  an  early  date,  and  at  first  suf- 
fered severe  persecution.  They  have  now  several  small 
societies,  but  no  regular  ministers.  A  society  was  formed 
at  Seabrook  in  1701. 

Number  of  churches  in  1850,  15.  Aggregate  accom- 
modations, 4700.  Total  value  of  church  property, 
115,200. 

Methodists.  —  In  July,  1791,  Jesse  Lee  preached  the 
first  Methodist  sermon  in  New  Hampshire,  at  Portsmouth. 
On  the  26th  of  August  of  the  same  year  he  preached  in  a 
private  house  in  Greenland.  Two  weeks  after  this  time 
he  again  preached  in  Portsmouth,  standing  upon  the  Court 
House  steps.  He  also  visited,  the  same  year,  Rindge, 
Marlborough,  Chesterfield,  Dublin,  and  some  other  towns. 
In  1794  Joshua  Hall  was  appointed  to  preach  in  New 
Hampshire,  but  the  folloAving  year  the  appointment  was 
withheld.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1795,  Mr.  Lee  again 
visited  Portsmouth,  and  preached  to  an  audience  of  four 
persons. 

The  first  Methodist  society  in  New  Hampshire  was  or- 
ganized at  Chesterfield,  in  the  latter  part  of  1795.  At 
the  conference  of  1796,  this  society  reported  68  members, 
and  became  a  regular  circuit.  Philip  Wager  was  the  first 
stationed  preacher,  and  reports  his  circuit  "  more  than  fifty 
miles  square." 


496  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

The  number  of  members  reported  in  the  state  in  1797 
was  92  ;  in  1798,  122.  The  Methodists  were  recognized 
by  law  as  a  distinct  religious  sect  June  15,  1807. 

The  New  Hampshire  Conference  was  organized  and  held 
its  first  session  at  Barre,  Vermont,  June  23,  1830.  The 
Vermont  Conference  was  separated  from  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference  in  1845.  The  New  Hampshire  Conference 
Seminary,  at  Northfield,  was  established  the  same  year. 
The  Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute  went  into  opera- 
tion at  Concord,  April  1,  1847,  having  an  endowment  of 
$37,000. 

In  May,  1854,  Methodism  reports  itself  as  follows  :  — 

Preachers'  appointments,  102.  Travelling  preachers,  82. 
Superannuated  preachers,  24.  Local  preachers,  98.  Mem- 
bers in  society,  9352.  Probationers,  1782.  Number  of 
Sabbath  schools,  123.  Do.  Sabbath  school  teachers,  1487. 
Do.  Sabbath  school  scholars,  9683.  Do.  Bible  classes,  498. 
Do.  scholars  in  infant  classes,  512.  Raised  for  benevo- 
lent objects,  (i.  e.  missions,  Bible  classes,  &c.,)  $5119.78. 
Total  value  of  church  property  in  1850,  $175,590. 

Roman  Catholic.  —  Number  of  churches  m  1854,  4. 
Aggregate  accommodations  in  1850,  1450.  Total  value 
of  church  property  in  1850,  $20,000. 

Unitarian.  —  Number  of  churches  in  1850,  13.  Ag- 
gregate accommodations,  8380.  Total  value  of  church 
property,  $72,800. 

Umversalists.  —  The  Universalists  were  recognized  by 
law  as  a  distinct  religious  sect  June  13,  1805.  The  first 
society  of  this  denomination  was  formed  at  Portsmouth  as 
early  as  1781. 

Number  of  societies,  70.  Do.  meeting  houses,  56.  Do. 
preachers,  27.  Total  value  of  church  property  in  1850, 
$83,100. 


RELIGION.  497 

Shalcers.  —  "  New  Hampshire  contains  two  societies  of 
those  curious  and  interesting  people  called  Shakers,  or 
United  Believers  —  one  situated  in  Canterbury,  Merri- 
mack county,  and  the  other  in  Enfield,  county  of  Grafton. 
These  two  societies  contain  usually  from  250  to  350  mem- 
bers each. 

"  There  are  now  in  the  United  States  eighteen  societies 
of  these  people,  containing  about  7000  members.  An  epit- 
ome of  the  principal  features  of  the  two  societies  in  New 
Hampshire  will  give  a  very  general  representation  of  the 
whole,  as  their  religious  opinions  and  practices,  as  well 
as  their  internal  regulations,  are  identical,,  whether  in  Ken- 
tucky, New  York,  or  New  Hampshire. 

*'  They  are  the  followers  of  Ann  Lee  and  her  associates, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  England  in  1774. 

"  The  religious  and  domestic  polity  of  this  singular 
order  of  people  presents  many  peculiar  and  highly  distin- 
guishing characteristics.  Their  church  government  may 
be  called  Episcopal,  or  vested  in  bishops  and  elders,  after 
the  order  of  the  primitive  church.  The  central  or  lead- 
ing spiritual  authority  devolves  upon  a  succession  of  min- 
istry, or  order  of  bishops,  residing  alternately  at  New  Leb- 
anon and  Watervliet,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

"  In  New  Hampshire,  the  religious  princijjles,  as  first 
inculcated  by  Ann  Lee,  were  adopted  by  several  families 
in  the  before-mentioned  and  several  of  the  surrounding 
towns  in  1782  ;  but  in  1792  these  families  associated  them- 
selves together  in  a  joint  interest,  in  all  their  temporal  and 
spiritual  concerns,  under  the  supervision  of  a  ministry,  or 
order  of  bishops,  appointed  by,  and  subject  to,  the  head 
authority  in  New  York.  The  societies  in  New  Hampshire 
have  continued  under  the  episcopal  jiuisdiction  of  a  suc- 
4«* 


498  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

cession  of  ministry  alternately  residing  at  Canterbury  and 
Enfield. 

"  The  most  striking  of  their  peculiar  religious  dogmas 
are  the  following  :  — 

*<  That  the  Deity  is  composed  of  two  great  and  funda- 
mental essences,  viz.,  povver  and  wisdom,  or  male  and 
female  principles.  For  proof  of  this  they  quote  Rom. 
i.  20. 

"  That  Christ  has  made,  not  only  his  first,  but  his  sec- 
ond appearing.  That  these  are  both  to  be  considered  as 
emphatically  spiritual  manifestations  ;  the  first  as  seen  in 
and  through  the  mission  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  the 
second  as  seen  in  the  same  manifestations  through  Ann 
Lee.  Through  these  two  manifestations  they  recognize  a 
spiritual  parentage,  or  the  father  and  mother  of  the  new 
creation. 

"  That  the  object  of  these  two  appearings  of  Christ  — 
first  in  the  male,  and  secondly  in  the  female  —  was  to 
make  an  end  of  sin,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteous- 
ness ;  to  make  an  end  of  the  world,  or  order  of  the  flesh, 
perfected  in  the  first  Adam  and  Eve,  that  all  who  would 
might  come  into  the  order  or  dispensation  of  the  new 
creation,  through  regeneration,  or  the  spiritual  parentage 
of  the  second  Adam  and  Eve.  Through  this  agency,  they 
believe  a  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth  are  being  insti- 
tuted, as  seen  in  their  order.  Hence  celibacy  is  rigidly 
and  tenaciously  observed  in  every  instance. 

"  That  the  resurrection  concerns  the  soul  or  spiritual 
body  only,  and  can  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  natural. 

"  In  short,  the  above  leading  points  of  doctrine  would 
seem  to  indicate  a  foundation,  with  no  borrowed  material, 
since  Christ,  or  the  declension  of  the  primitive  church. 

"  However  objectionable   these  dogmas   may  appear  to 


RET.TGION.  499 

the  casual  observer,  the  foot  cannot  be  disguised,  that  this 
doctrine,  as  a  foundation  for  practical  holiness,  possesses 
many  decided  advantages.  And  that  the  isolated  position 
in  which  they  stand  to  the  world  without  should  expose 
them  to  much  scandal  and  reproach,  is  not  astonishing. 
But  when  scandal  and  reproach  become  the  cause  of  re- 
ligious persecution,  they  should  become  a  source  of  uni- 
versal regret.  Indeed,  several  unsuccessful  attempts  have 
been  made  to  procure  legislative  enactments,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, ostensibly  and  specially  designed  to  oppress  this 
peaceable  and  quiet  class  of  people,  and  tending  to  destroy 
many  of  those  sacred  privileges  now  so  faithfully  guaran- 
tied to  every  good  citizen  by  our  constitution.  May 
special  legislation,  and  every  species  of  religious  intoler- 
ance, never  find  a  stronger  foothold  in  the  old  Granite 
State  than  they  already  possess, 

"  The  Shakers  take  no  part  in  political  affairs,  believing 
themselves  subjects  of  another  kingdom,  although  they 
cheerfully  yield  all  their  constitutional  obligations  for  their 
privileges  secured  in  return. 

"  That  they  constitute  the  only  successful  attempt  for  an 
institution,  or  association,  for  a  community  of  joint  inter- 
ests, and  that  they  have  gained  for  themselves  a  character 
for  honesty,  industry,  temperance,  neatness,  and  sobriety, 
have  become  universally  proverbial.  Their  villages  pre- 
sent a  spectacle  of  thrift,  order,  and  cleanliness  nowhere 
else  to  be  found. 

"  At  Enfield,  for  61  years,  or  since  the  society  there 
was  first  founded,  they  have  had  but  201  deaths.  The 
average  age  of  all  these  lives  has  exceeded,  a  trifle,  52 
years.  The  society  at  Canterbury,  in  these  particulars,  is 
very  nearly  the  same.  This  is  worthy  of  great  consid- 
eration. 


OOO  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    A3    IT    IS. 

"  Agriculture,  horticulture,  and  the  various  mechanic 
arts  claim  their  constant  attention,  all  of  which  they  pursue 
with  much  profit  and  success.  By  means  of  their  indus- 
try and  frugal  habits,  their  honesty  and  punctuality  in  all 
their  business  transactions,  they  have  accumulated  a  respec- 
table property;  and  after  bestowing  much  for  charitable 
purposes,  they  live  quiet,  peaceful,  and  happy  lives." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

DANIEL  WEBSTER* 

The  family  of  Daniel  Webster  was  of  Scottish  origin, 
though  it  was  established  in  America  at  a  very  early  peri- 
od. Thomas  Webster,  the  remotest  ancestor  in  this  coun- 
try, settled  at  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  in  the  year  1636, 
or  sixteen  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plym- 
outh ;  and  from  him  the  descent  has  been  definitely  traced 
in  the  records  of  Hampton,  Kingston,  and  Salisbury. 

Ebenezer  Webster,  the  father  of  Daniel,  is  represented 
as  having  been  a  man  of  "  striking  personal  appearance," 
tall,  erect,  and  athletic,  a  man  of  great  energy  of  character 
and  indomitable  courage.  He  rendered  important  services 
both  in  the  French  war  and  the  revolution ;  was  at  West 
Point  at  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  Arnold's  treason ;  at  the 
battle  of  White  Plains,  and  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  be- 
ing, in  the  latter,  a  major  under  General  Stark.  After  the 
decease  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Abigail  Eastman,  who 
became  the  mother  of  Ezekiel  and  Daniel  Webster,     like 

•  See  plate. 


rilOfcfllAPHICAL  SS^ErfCHES.  5^1 

the  tfibthers  df  most  men  of  distinction,  she  was  possessed 
of  superior  intellect  and  great  energy  of  character.  She 
lived,  like  every  true  mother,  for  the  good  of  her  children, 
and  looked  forward  to  the  time  when  they  should  rise 
above  the  humble  position  in  which  their  lot  was  cast. 
The  distinction  which  they  afterwards  attained  is  no  doubt 
attributable,  in  a  great  measure,  to  her  early  precepts  and 
instructions. 

Daniel  Webster  was  born  on  the  18th  of  January,  1782, 
In  Salisbury,  New  Hampshire,  a  place  at  that  time  on  the 
very  borders  of  civilization,  and  subject  to  all  the  diffi- 
culties and  dangers  of  a  frontier  settlement.  In  this  place 
he  passed  the  days  of  his  childhood,  receiving  his  first  im- 
pressions from  the  wild  and  picturesque  scenery  which 
there  abounds,  and  his  first  instructions  from  his  pious  and 
devoted  mother,  who,  on  account  of  his  feebleness  when  a 
child,  always  treated  him  with  special  kindness,  and  proph- 
esied even  then  that  he  would  become  eminent. 

Yes,  New  Hampshire  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  the 
birthplace  of  so  many  men  of  renown.  In  this,  indeed, 
she  acknowledges  no  superior  among  her  sister  states.  Of 
her  it  may  be  said,  as  Homer  said  of  Ithaca,  "  Rugged  is 
her  surface  and  unprolificis  her  soil,  but  she  is  the  nursing 
mother  of  great  men."  Here  was  he  born  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  the  guardian  of  the  Union,  the  great  ex- 
pounder of  the  constitution,  as  Mount  Washington  seems 
keeping  guard  over  the  land  of  his  birth.  Here  he  im- 
bibed that  dignity,  that  freedom  of  thought,  and  that  in- 
tellectual vigor  which  left  so  indelible  a  mark  on  his  ora- 
tory and  his  public  career. 

**  It  may  well  be  supposed  that  his  early  opportunities  for 
education  were  very  scanty."  He  was  obliged  to  walk  two 
and  a  half  miles  to  school  in  midwinter,  when  quite  youngs 


602  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

His  first  masters  were  Thomas  Chase  and  James  Tappan, 
whom  he  always  regarded  with  the  most  profound  respect 
and  esteem.  In  the  year  1796  he  was  taken  by  his  father 
to  the  Academy  in  Exeter,  where  he  remained  for  a  few 
months  only,  but  sufficiently  long  to  give  his  mind  a  most 
powerful  impulse. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  there  appear  to  exist  in  all 
possessed  of  true  genius  a  spirit  of  distrust,  a  want  of 
confidence  in  their  own  ability  to  perform  that  for  which 
they  appear,  in  after  life,  to  have  been  specially  created. 
Perhaps  this  arises  from  a  greater  appreciation  of  excellence, 
and  a  consequent  shrinking  from  attempting  any  thing 
which  must  at  first  Ml  so  far  short  of  it.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
it  is  a  fact  attested  by  Mr.  Webster  himself,  that  he  found 
declamation  the  most  difficult  of  all  his  exercises.  He 
says,  "  I  believe  I  made  tolerable  progress  in  most  branches 
which  I  attended  to  while  in  this  school.  But  there  was 
one  thing  I  could  not  do.  I  could  not  make  a  declama- 
tion. I  could  not  speak  before  the  school.  The  kind 
and  excellent  Buckminster  sought  especially  to  persuade 
me  to  perform  the  exercise  of  declamation  like  other 
boys,  but  I  could  not  do  it.  Many  a  piece  did  I  commit 
to  memory,  and  recite  and  rehearse  in  my  own  room,  over 
and  over  again ;  yet  when  the  day  came,  when  the  school 
collected  to  hear  declamations,  when  my  name  was 
called,  and  I  saw  all  eyes  turned  to  my  seat,  I  could  not 
raise  myself  from  it." 

By  determined  will  and  repeated  trials,  he,  however,  at 
length  overcame  this  extreme  diffidence,  and  began  very 
soon  to  be  distinguished  for  his   oratorical  powers. 

The  following  anecdote  is  related  of  him  while  connected 
with  this  school.  After  a  month  his  instructor,  Mr.  Nich- 
olas Emery,  said  to  him  one  morning,  "  Webster,  you  will 


lUOGUAPIIlCAL    SKETCHES.  508 

pass  into  the  other  room,  and  join  a  higher  class  ;  "  at  the 
^       'Same  time  adding,  addressing  his  classmates,  "  Boys,  you 
will  take  your  final  leave  of  Webster  ;  you  will  never  see 
him  again." 

He  remained  here  but  a  few  months,  when  "he  was 
placed  by  his  father  under  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  the 
minister  of  the  neighboring  town  of  Boscawen,"  with 
whom  he  remained  from  February  till  August,  1797.  He 
was  now  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  it  was  on  their  journey 
to  Mr.  Wood's  that  his  father  first  disclosed  to  him  the  de- 
sign of  sending  him  to  college.  Says  Mr.-  Webster,  "  I 
remember  the  very  hill  which  we  were  ascending,  through 
deep  snows,  in  a  New  England  sleigh,  when  my  father 
made  known  this  purpose  to  me.  I  could  not  speak.  How 
could  he,  I  thought,  with  so  large  a  family,  and  in  such 
narrow  circumstances,  think  of  incurring  so  great  an  ex- 
pense for  me.  A  warm  glow  ran  all  over  me,  and  I  laid  my 
head  on  my  father's  shoulder  and  wept."  Many  a  son  of 
New  England,  many  a  poor  New  Hampshire  boy,  who, 
when  looking  on  the  spires  of  old  Dartmouth,  has  turned 
away  and  wept  because  poverty  forbade  him  to  be  num- 
bered in  those  halls,  can  appreciate  his  emotions  at  that  time. 
After  remaining  six  months  with  Mr.  Wood,  he  entered 
college.  That  his  preparation  was  imperfect  there  is  no 
doubt.  That  it  was  far  superior  to  that  of  many  a  child  of 
wealth  and  luxury  who  has  spent  years  in  irksome  study, 
there  is  also  no  doubt.  Spurred  on  by  the  threefold  incen- 
tive, poverty,  duty,  and  ambition,  what  is  not  the  human 
mind  able  to  accomplish  ?  It  has  never  yet  been  tasked  to 
its  capacity.  The  example  of  perseverance  amid  difficulties 
which  Daniel  Webster  has  left  to  the  youth  of  our  country 
is  alone  sufficient  to  render  his  name  immortal. 

There  is  a  great  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  indolent 


504  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Students  in  our  literary  institutions  to  prove  tlfet  idleness 
and  dulness  in  college  have  distinguished  most  men  of 
genius  ;  and  this  is  said  of  Daniel  Webster.  A  greater 
mistake  could  not  be  made  ;  and  certainly  in  this  pai'ticular 
ca$e  a  greater  falsehood  could  not  well  be  told. 

Professor  Shurtleff,  who  alone  survives  of  the  faculty 
connected  with  the  college  when  Webster  was  a  student, 
declares  that  no  one  was  more  diligent  and  studious  than 
he,  and  that  he  even  then  stood  preeminent  among  his 
classmates,  as  he  has  since  among  men. 

Graduating  in  August,  1801,  he  immediately  entered  the 
office  of  Mr.  Thompson,  near  his  father's,  as  a  student  of 
law,  where  he  remained  until  1804,  with  the  exception  of 
teaching  an  academy  in  Fryeburg,  jVIaine,  for  a  season,  for 
^e  purpose  of  obtaining  money  to  prosecute  his  own  profes- 
sional studies,  and  to  assist  his  brother  Ezekiel  in  his  college 
course.  "  In  July,  1804,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Bos- 
ton. Before  entering  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
he  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  pursuing  his  legal  studies  for 
six  or  eight  months  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Christopher 
Gore."  He  first  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Boscawen,  near  his  father's  residence  ;  but  in  Sep- 
tember, 1807,  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  where  he  be- 
came at  once  associated  with  the  most  distinguished  law- 
yers of  New  England.  Here  he  commenced  that  brilliant 
career  which  so  soon  placed  him  at  the  head  of  his  profes- 
sion. It  is  said  that,  when  asked  why  he  chose  the  profes- 
sion of  law,  and  if  he  was  not  aware  it  was  already  crowd- 
ed, he  replied,  "There  is  room  enough  up  high."  His 
style  of  pleading  at  the  bar  was  peculiarly  his  own.  Leav- 
ing the  minor  technicalities  of  the  law,  he  soared  aloft,  and 
grasped  the  great  principles  of  eternal  truth  and  justice,  of 
which  the  written  law  is  but    a    feeble    and    partial   im- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  506 

bodiment,  and    in    arguing   a  single  case  decided  a  hun- 
dred. 

The  commencement  of  Mr.  Webster's  pubHc  life  was  in 
1813,  when  he  first  took  his  seat  in  Congress  ;  and  his  maid- 
en speech  was  on  the  10th  of  June,  upon  a  series  of  res- 
olutions moved  by  himself  relative  to  the  repeal  of  the 
Berlin  and  INlilan  decrees.  This  is  said  to  have  taken  the 
house  by  surprise ;  and  it  is  declared  by  a  person  present 
that  "  no  member  before  ever  riveted  the  attention  of  the 
Louse  so  closely  in  his  first  speech." 

His  history,  from  this  time  forth,  "  the  world  knows  by 
heart,"  and  the  speeches  of  him  who  once  dared  not  de- 
claim in  a  small  school  are  familiar  as  household  words  to 
every  boy  in  our  land.  Though  beyond  question  one  of 
the  first  of  orators,  his  style  was  different  from  that  of  any 
other  man  that  ever  lived.  He  had  not  the  fire  and  energy 
of  Demosthenes,  nor  the  brilliancy  of  Cicero,  but  a  certain 
measured,  logical  progress,  which  no  power  could  resist  or 
gainsay.  And  yet  his  language  was  by  no  means  destitute 
of  ornament ;  nothing  more  beautiful,  indeed,  can  be  found 
in  the  English  language ;  but  the  embellishments  are  like 
the  structure  itself — ricli  and  massive,  intended  for  all  time. 

The  following  comparison  between  the  two  great  states- 
men. Clay  and  Webster,  drawn  by  Mr.  Preston,  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  his  eulogy  upon  Mr.  Webster,  will  probably  give 
a  very  just  idea  of  his  style  of  oratory  :  "  Clay  —  bold, 
brilliant,  and  dashing,  rushing  at  results  with  that  intuition 
of  common  sense  that  outstrips  all  the  processes  of  logic  — 
always  commanded  the  heart  and  directed  the  action  of  his 
party.  Webster  seemed  deficient  in  some  of  these  great  qual- 
ities, but  surpassed  ]fim  in  others.  He  appeared  his  natu- 
ral auxiliary.  Clay  —  the  most  brilliant  parliamentary  lead- 
er, and  probably  unequalled,  save  by  the  Earl  of  Chatham, 
43 


506  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

whom  he  resembled  —  swept  with  the  velocity  of  a  charge 
of  cavalry  on  his  opponents,  and  often  won  the  victoiy  be- 
fore others  were  prepared  for  the  encounter.  Webster, 
with  his  array  of  facts,  his  power  of  statement  and  logical 
deductions,  moved  forward  like  the  disciplined  and  serried 
inii\ntry,  with  the  measured  tread  of  deliberate  resolution, 
and  the  stately  air  of  irresistible  power," 

Mr.  Webster  removed  to  Boston  in  1816,  that  he  might 
find  a  wider  field  for  his  professional  pursuits,  and  in  1822 
was  elected  to  Congress  from  that  city  by  a  large  majority, 
and  in  1827  he  was  first  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate.  On  the  election  of  General  Harrison  to  the 
presidency,  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  state,  but  resigned 
this  office  soon,  after  the  commencement  of  President  Ty- 
ler's administration,  and  in  1845  returned  to  the  Senate. 

His  speeches,  both  in  the  Senate  and  on  special  occasions, 
are  among  the  most  remarkable  and  most  valuable  produc- 
tions, not  only  in  this  country,  but  of  any  age  or  country. 
Men  may  differ  with  regard  to  his  political  views  and  pub- 
lic measures,  but  all  must  acknowledge  him  the  greatest 
intellect  of  his  age.  Nor  was  he  less  esteemed  in  private 
life  than  honored  in  public  station.  Kind  and  cheerful  in 
the  domestic  circle,  he  won  the  affection  of  all  who  knew 
him  ;  and  when,  on  the  24th  of  October,  1852,  he  peace- 
fully departed  this  life,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age, 
the  nation  mourned  his  loss. 

His  last  words,  "  I  still  live,"  are  true  throughout  the 
civilized  world,  and  so  they  shall  remain  while  history 
endures. 


^f.t*^ 


lUOftUAPinCAI-    HKKTCHE8.  507 


MARSHALL  TINCKNEY  WILDER,  OF  DORCHESTER, 
MASSACHUSETTS* 

This  distinguished  gentleman  was  b#rn  in  Rindge,  New 
Hampshire,  September  22,  1798.  He  was  the  eldest  child 
of  Samuel  Locke  Wilder,  Esq.,  a  worthy  merchant  and 
farmer  in  that  town,  and  its  representative  several  years  in 
the  legislature  of  this  state.  His  father  moved  there,  in 
early  life,  from  Lancaster,  Massachusetts.  His  paternal 
ancestors  performed  important  services  in  the  Indian  and 
revolutionary  wars,  in  the  suppression  of  Shays's  rebellion, 
and  in  the  organization  of  the  state  and  national  govern- 
ments. "  Of  all  the  ancient  Lancaster  families,"  says  the 
Worcester  Magazine,  "  there  is  no  one  that  has  sustained 
so  many  important  offices  as  that  of  the  Wilders." 

Having  given  him  the  advantages  of  the  common  school, 
his  parents  sent  him,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  to  New  Ips- 
wich Academy,  and  subsequently  placed  him  under  the 
instruction  of  a  private  teacher,  for  the  study  of  the  clas- 
sics. When  he  had  nearly  completed  his  preparation  for 
college,  they  discovered  that  his  inclination  was  not  for 
sedentary,  but  for  active  life.  Partly  for  the  confirmation 
of  their  own  opinion,  and  partly  also  for  the  exercise  of 
his  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  they  gave  him  his 
choice,  either  to  continue  his  studies  and  prepare  for  one 
of  the  learned  professions,  to  enter  the  store  with  his 
father  and  fit  himself  for  mercantile  pursuits,  or  to  go  on 
to  the  farm  with  the  workmen  and  become  an  agricul- 
turist. 

At  first  he  chose  the  latter  ;  but  Providence  soon  called 
him  from  the  farm  to  the  store,  where  he  served  an  ap- 

•  See  plate. 


508  JTEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    Iff    IS. 

prenticeship  till  he  reached  his  majority.  Then  he  was 
admitted  into  the  firm,  called  S.  L.  Wilder  &  Son.  In  this 
connection  he  transacted  a  large  and  lucrative  business  for 
several  years,  andj^in  addition,  discharged  the  duties  of 
postmaster  in  that  place. 

His  first  marriage  was  December  31,  1820,  to  Miss 
Tryphosa  Jewett,  of  that  town,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren ;  and  his  second  August  29,  1833,  to  Miss  Abby 
Baker,  of  Franklin,  Massachusetts,  by  whom  he  also  had 
six  children.  Of  his  offspring,  seven  still  survive,  and 
five  are  not,  for  God  has  taken  them,  together  with  his 
two  wedded  companions. 

In  1816,  when  he  was  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
exhibited  a  partiality  for  military  tactics,  and  received  an 
appointment  in  the  staff  of  the  twelfth  regiment  of  New 
Hampshire  militia,  in  connection  with  which  he  remained 
till  1820,  when  he  took  command  of  the  Eindge  Light 
Infantry,  a  new  independent  company,  raised  and  equipped 
mainly  by  his  exertions.  After  two  years  he  was  promoted 
to  the  office  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  the  next  year  to  that 
of  colonel  of  the  regiment ;  but  he  resigned  the  office  the 
succeeding  spring,  on  account  of  his  removal  to  Boston, 
being  then  in  the  line  of  rapid  promotion  to  the  highest 
military  honors. 

Upon  the  transfer  of  Mr.  Wilder's  family  and  trade  to 
Boston  in  1825,  he  engaged  in  the  West  India  goods  busi- 
ness as  a  wholesale  merchfyit,  and  subsequently  as  an  im- 
porter ;  but  in  1827  he  entered  a  large  commission  house, 
in  which  he  still  continues.  The  firm  is  at  present  called 
Parker,  Wilder,  &  Co.,  and  sustains  the  reputation  of  one 
of  the  most  active  and  reliable  houses  in  New  England. 
It  owns  and  transacts  the  business  of  a  large  number  of 
cotton  and  woollen  mills. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    ^ETCHES.  509 

He  and  his  senior  partner,  Isaac  Parker,  Esq.,  brother 
of  Hon.  Joel  Parker,  late  chief  justice  of  this  state,  rank 
among  the  merchant  princes  of  Boston.  They  sustain 
official  relations  to  several  monetary  institutions  of  that  city. 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Wilder's  first  wife,  he  sought 
the  retirement  of  the  country,  and  moved  into  his  present 
residence  in  June,  1832.  It  is  the  first  house  in  Dor- 
chester on  the  road  from  Eoxbury  to  Milton  Hill.  It  is 
called  "  Hawthorn  Grove,"  standing  back  from  the  street, 
and  surrounded  Avith  shades  and  hedges  in  variety.  All 
its  buildings  are  convenient  and  tasteful.  On  either  side, 
and  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  are  gardens  and  nurseries. 
His  conservatories  rank  among  the  best  in  the  country. 
Amateurs  pronounce  his  collection  of  trees  and  plants  the 
best  that  can  be  found.  Plis  library  contains  the  most  rare 
and  valuable  works  on  his  favorite  art. 

He  usually  devotes  the  morning  and  evening  to  study ; 
the  rest  of  the  day  to  the  superintendence  of  his  workmen 
at  home,  and  to  his  mercantile  business  in  Boston.  This 
plan,  long  continued,  has  enabled  him  to  make  large  and 
various  literary  acquisitions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Massachusetts 
Horticultural  Society,  of  which  he  was  elected  president 
in  1840.  He  had  previously  submitted  to  that  body  a 
resolution,  which  separated  from  it  the  Mount  Auburn 
Cemetery  Association,  and  which  secured  the  annual  pay- 
ment, by  the  latter  to  the  former,  of  one  quarter  of  the 
receipts  from  the  sale  of  lots,  in  consideration  of  the  soci- 
ety's relinquishment  of  its  claim  to  those  consecrated 
grounds.  This  arrangement  has  proved,  in  a  high  degree, 
beneficial  to  both  organizations.  It  has  enabled  the  asso- 
ciation to  adorn  its  grounds,  and  to  erect  its  beautiful 
temple  and  observatory,  and  also  the  society  to  offer  more 
43* 


> 


510  NEW    HAifrSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

liberal  premiums,  to  make  numerous  and  important  ad- 
ditions to  its  library,  and  to  construct  its  commodious  hall 
in  School  Street  in  Boston. 

During  Mr.  Wilder's  presidency  of  that  society,  it 
greatly  increased  its  funds  and  its  number  of  members. 
At  the  laying  of  its  corner  stone,  and  the  dedication  of  its 
hall,  he  delivered  appropriate  addresses,  reported  in  its 
Transactions  and  in  the  periodicals  of  that  day.  Under  his 
energetic  and  wise  administration,  its  triennial  festivals 
rose  to  the  highest  rank  among  the  gala  days  in  Massachu- 
setts. They  assembled  the  refined  and  fashionable  of  both 
sexes,  from  city  and  country,  who  crowded  the  old  Cradle 
of  Liberty  to  its  utmost  capacity.  On  these  occasions 
Faneuil  Hall  was  tastefully  decorated,  and  its  tables  were 
crowned  with  flowers  and  fruits  in  abundance  and  in 
variety.  Mr.  Wilder's  sentiments  and  speeches  at  these 
festivals,  together  with  the  responses  of  the  distinguished 
cultivators  and  of  the  chief  masters  of  eloquence,  fill  a 
large  space  in  the  society's  Transactions. 

In  1848,  when  he  resigned  the  office,  the  society  acknowl- 
edged its  obligations  to  him  in  a  vote  of  thanks,  accom- 
panied Avith  magnificent  pieces  of  silver  plate,  and  inscribed 
with  his  name  and  in  testimony  of  his  "  zeal  and  success  in 
the  cause  of  horticulture  and  floriculture."  During  this 
period  of  eight  years  he  also  did  much  for  the  promotion 
of  pomology,  by  large  annual  importations  of  fruit  trees, 
by  the  growth  of  seedlings,  and  by  his  encouragement  of 
nurserymen  throughout  the  country. 

On  the  termination  of  his  official  relation  to  that  society, 
he  headed  a  circular  for  a  national  organization  foi  a 
kindred  purpose.  This  is  now  known  as  the  American 
Pomological  Society,  and  Mr.  Wilder  was  elected  its  first 
president  —  an  office  which  he  now  fills. 


.:^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  511 

At  the  biennial  meeting  of  this  association  in  1852,  he 
delivered,  by  appointment,  a  eulogy  on  the  life  and  charac- 
ter of  Andrew  Jackson  Downing,  Esq.,  Avho  perished  by 
the  conflagration  of  the  steamer  Henry  Clay  on  the  Hud- 
son. He  closed  with  these  graphic  words  :  "  Downing 
is  dead  !  But  the  principles  of  artistic  beauty  and  pro- 
priety, of  rural  economy  and  domestic  comfort,  which  he 
revealed,  await  a  more  full  and  perfect  development ;  and 
as  they  advance  towards  a  more  glorious  consummation, 
grateful  millions  will  honor  and  cherish  his  name.  His 
memory  shall  live  for  ever. ^^ 

At  the  late  meeting  of  this  society  in  Boston,  he  deliv- 
ered a  scientific  and  yet  practical  address  on  pomology,* 
which  called  forth  the  strong  and  unqualified  commenda- 
tion of  its  members.  Its  session  of  three  days  closed  with 
a  levee,  which  he  gave  at  the  Revere  House,  and  with  a 
vote  of  thanks  for  his  "  able  lecture,"  for  his  sumptuous 
entertainment,  and  for  the  dignity  and  fidelity  with  which 
he  had  presided  over  their  deliberations. 

Mr.  Wilder 's  knoAvledge  of  horticulture  well  qualified 
him  for  a  leader  in  enterprises  for  the  promotion  of  agri- 
culture. He  commenced  his  operations  in  this  department 
in  his  own  county  of  Norfolk,  IMassachusetts,  where  he 
joined  in  a  call  for  a  convention,  that  organized  an  agri- 
cultural society,  of  which  he  was  elected  and  still  con- 
tinues president.  At  its  first  exhibition  in  Dedham,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1849,  he  delivered  an  address  on  agricultural 
education.  He  was  followed  by  Governors  Briggs,  Lin- 
cold,  Reed,  and  Hill,  by  Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  Edward 
Everett,  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Horace  Mann,  Charles  F. 
Adams,  Josiah  Quincy,  and  others,  in  a  strain  of  kindred 
eloquence. 

•  Tr.insactions  for  1854. 


r  > 


512  NirSV    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Then  and  there  commenced  a  new  era  in  the  history  of 
American  agriculture.  Kindred  associations  sprang  up  m 
other  sections,  and  the  cause  was  subsequently  advocated 
by  him  in  lectures  before  the  agricultural  societies  in  Berk- 
shire, Bristol,  and  Hampshire  counties,  and  before  the  agri- 
cultural society  in  this  state. 

Before  the  latter  of  these  bodies,  he  closed  with  this 
beautiful  apostrophe  :  "  My  country,  let  the  eagle  of  thy 
liberty,  which  so  lately  stood  upon  the  cliff  of  thine  At- 
lantic coast,  but  which  stands  to-day  upon  the  lofty  height 
of  thy  rocky  mounts,  stretch  her  broad  wings  from  shore 
to  shore,  and  continue  to  shelter  the  happy  millions  of  thy 
sons.  And  from  those  wings,  from  year  to  year,  may  her 
young  eaglets  fly  to  other  lands,  till  the  reign  of  universal 
freedom  shall  introduce  a  universal  jubilee.  My  country, 
MY  COUNTRY  !  glorious  prospects  are  before  thee  —  union, 
wealth,  and  power  ;  intelligence,  virtue,  and  immortal  re- 
nown !  " 

In  1850  Mr.  Wilder  was  elected  from  his  county  to  the 
Senate  of  the  commonwealth,  a  body  of  which  he  was 
chosen  president,  and  during  its  session  submitted  a  plan, 
which  was  cordially  adopted,  for  a.  board  of  commissioners 
to  examine  and  report  to  the  next  legislature  on  the  con- 
dition and  the  means  of  promoting  agriculture  in  that  state. 
Of  this  commission  he  was  chairman,  and,  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Hitchcock,  of  Amherst  College,  submitted  an  elaborate 
and  invaluable  report.  From  this  body  arose  the  Massa- 
chusetts State  Board  of  Agriculture  as  a  distinct  and  per- 
manent department  of  the  government  —  a  board  of  which 
he  is  still  an  acting  member,  which  has  its  secretary  and 
commodious  rooms  in  the  capitol,  and  which  promises  to 
do  for  agriculture  what  the  board  of  education  has  ac- 
complished for  the  system  of  instruction  in  that  common- 
wealth. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  518 

Mr.  Wilder  uext  undertook  the  formation  of  a  kindi*ed 
national  society.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he  headed  a  call 
for  a  convention  of  delegates  of  state  agricultural  socie- 
ties at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  June  24,  to  con- 
cert measures  for  their  mutual  advantage,  and  for  the 
promotion  of  American  agriculture.  This  convention  was 
fully  attended  by  gentlemen  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  by  members  of  Congress.  It  organized  the  United 
States  Agricultural  Socj^ty,  Avhich  elected  him  for  its 
president  —  an  office  which  he  still  holds. 

It  held  its  first  exhibition,  which  was  confined  to  that 
noble  animal  the  horse,  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts.  It 
was  attended  by  twenty  thousand  people,  and  many  thou- 
sand dollars  were  awarded  in  premiums.  Never  before 
were  so  many  rare  specimens  of  the  different  breeds  of 
that  noble  animal  brought  together.  The  sight  of  them, 
mounted  or  driven  in  the  vast  amphitheatre,  was  truly  a 
sublime  spectacle. 

The  second  exhibition  of  this  society  was  held  in  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  and  confined  to  neat  cattle.  In  this  depart- 
ment it  was  a  scene  of  equal  interest  with  the  former. 
Many  thousands  of  dollars  were  distributed  in  premiums. 
The  speeches  of  Mr.  Wilder,  on  each  of  these  occasions, 
are  fully  and  faithfully  reported  in  the  society's  Trans- 
actions. 

In  the  autumn  of  1819  an  association  Avas  formed  in 
Boston,  called  the  Sons  of  New  Hampshire.  It  consists 
of  the  many  hundreds  of  emigrants  from  that  state  in  and 
around  that  commercial  metropolis  of  New  England.  Of 
this  body  Daniel  Webster  was  the  first  president,  and 
the  subject  of  this  narrative  the  second.  At  its  first 
festival,  ^Ir.  Wilder  renders  this  grateful  tribute  to  their 
native  state  :    "  She  has  raised  men,  great  men  ;  and  had 


514  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

she  performed  no  other  service,  this  alone  were  suificient 
to  associate  her  name  with  that  of  Sparta  and  of  Athens 
in  the  history  of  mankind.  Her  Stark  was  a  modern 
Leonidas,  and  among  her  orators  [pointing  to  Mr.  Web- 
ster] none  would  hesitate  to  point  out  a  Demosthenes/^ 
(Great  applause.) 

The  death  of  Mr.  Webster  he  noticed  on  four  different 
public  occasions.  On  the  first  of  these,  when  he  met  the 
New  Hampshire  legislature  and  executive  at  the  Fitchburg 
Depot,  at  the  head  of  the  Sons  of  New  Hampshire,  to  re- 
ceive them  as  their  guests,  on  the  occasion  of  his  obse- 
quies, he  said,  "  The  loss  to  us,  to  the  country,  and  to 
the  world  is  irreparable.  The  whole  nation  mourns."  On 
the  second  of  these  occasions  he  closed  with  this  apos- 
trophe :  "  Sainted  patriot !  there,  in  those  celestial  fields, 
where  the  sickle  of  the  great  reaper  shall  no  more  cut 
down  the  wise  and  the  good,  we  hope  at  last  to  meet  thee 
—  there,  in  those  pure  realms  where  the  rainbow  never 
fades,  where  thy  brilliant  star  shall  shine  with  pure  efful- 
gence, and  where  the  high  and  glorious  aspirations  of  thy 
soul  shall  be  forever  realized."  The  third  was  when  he 
was  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  Mr.  Webster  as  president 
of  the  association,  and  the  fourth  was  at  the  second  festi- 
val of  that  voluntary  society. 

Mr.  Wilder  is  yet  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood,  and  on 
the  flood  tide  of  success.  He  has,  we  are  informed,  works 
in  the  course  of  preparation  on  his  favorite  arts,  which 
promise  to  be  of  great  value  to  the  world.  His  numerous 
Bpeeches  and  addresses,  if  collected*  and  published  in  a 
uniform  edition,  would  make  a  handsome  and  valuable 
royal  octavo  volume.  None  have  contributed  more  to 
promote  American  horticulture  and  agriculture.  His  affa- 
ble, yet  dignified  manners,  his  appropriateness  on  all  occa- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  516 

sions,  and  his  long  and  valuable  services  render  him  a 
favorite  with  the  common  people,  and  also  with  the  elite  of 
society.  Long  may  he  live  to  serve  his  generation  and  his 
Creator. 

EDMUND   BURKlv 

Although  Mr.  Burke  is  not  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
yet  his  long  residence  in  this  state,  the  important  offices 
which  he  has  filled,  and  the  high  position  which  he  occu- 
pies as  a  public  man  and  citizen,  entitle  him,  in  our  judg- 
ment, to  a  place  among  our  sketches  of  the  eminent  public 
characters  of  our  state. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  town  of  West- 
minster, Vermont,  on  the  23d  day  of  January,  1809.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  not  wealthy,  but  possessed  of  a  com- 
petency quite  sufficient  for  the  support  of  himself  and  a 
numerous  family.  His  circumstances,  however,  required 
that  he  should  labor  with  constant  industry,  —  the  lot  of 
most  New  England  farmers,  —  and  bring  his  family  up  to 
the  same  habits  of  active  toil.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
was  not  exempt  from  the  salutary  training  and  discipline 
in  the  habits  of  robust  and  health-giving  labor,  from  which 
but  few  of  the  sons  of  the  tillers  of  the  soil  are  exempt. 
He  labored  with  his  father  from  the  time  his  age  and 
strength  would  permit  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
gping  to  the  common  school  of  the  village  in  which  he  was 
born,  during  the  summers  in  the  tenderer  years  of  his  life, 
and  during  the  winters  when  he  had  arrived  at  an  age 
when  his  services  were  valuable  and  necessary  upon  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  his  father,  unable  to  give  him 
an  academical  education,  but  desiring  that  he  should  have 
every  advantage  in  his  power  to  give  him  a  respectable 
position  in  society,  proposed  that  he  should  make  an  effiart 


516  XEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

t©  become  a  member  of  one  of  the  learned  professions, 
oflfering  to  give  him  his  time,  and  promising  to  extend  to 
him  such  aid  as  might  be  in  his  power,  if  he  would  ac- 
cept the  generous  offer  of  his  parent.  He  readily  em- 
braced the  opportunity,  and  immediately  commenced  the 
study  of  Latin,  with  the  view  of  pursuing  the  study  of 
the  law.  He  continued  the  study  of  that  language  with 
great  industry  for  six  months,  under  the  tutorship  first  of 
William  F.  Hale,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Bellows  Falls,  Ver- 
mont, and  recently  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  departments  at 
Washington,  and  subsequently  of  Henry  A.  Bellows,  Esq., 
now  of  Concord,  in  this  state  ;  and  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
being  then  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  entered  as  a  student 
at  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  William  C.  Bradley,  of 
Westminster,  then  and  for  a  long  time  one  of  the  most 
eminent  counsellors  and  jurists  of  the  state.  Mr.  Bradley 
was  also  distinguished  as  a  politician  as  well  as  lawyer, 
and  possessed  conversational  powers  of  most  remarkable 
eloquence  and  brilliancy.  It  is  not  strange  that  he  should 
insinuate  his  opinions  and  principles  (which  were  of  the 
democratic  school  of  politics)  into  the  mind  of  a  susceptible 
and  impressible  young  man.  To  this  circumstance,  and 
also  to  the  hereditary  principles  of  his  family,  enforced 
by  the  precept  and  example  of  his  father,  who  was  a  de- 
voted disciple  of  the  Jeffersonian  school,  and  was  also  a  man 
of  extensive  reading  for  one  in  his  station  in  life,  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  strong  mind,  Mr.  Burke  undoubtedly  owes  the 
very  decided  political  cast  of  his  character. 

Plaving  followed  his  professional  studies  during  the 
period  of  nearly  five  years,  the  term  required  of  students 
who  had  not  the  advantage  of  graduation  at  a  college,  Mr. 
Burke  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Windham  county,  in  that 
state.     He  was  soon  after  admitted  in  Cheshire  county,  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  517 

this  state,  and  in  the  spring  following  (April,  1830)  he 
emigrated  to  Coos  county.  He  first  settled  in  the  town 
of  Colebrook,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Whitefield, 
where  he  made  a  permanent  location.  Mr.  Burke  le- 
mained  in  Whitefield,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
until  the  fall  of  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Claremont,  in 
Sullivan  county,  in  order  to  take  the  editorial  charge  of  a 
newspaper  published  in  that  town,  called  the  Argus.  It 
is  proper  here  to  remark,  that  Mr.  Burke  has  been  often 
heard  to  obsei-ve  that  he  never  spent  three  years  of  his  life 
so  profitably  as  those  he  spent  in  the  town  of  Whitefield. 
He  says  he  went  into  Coos  county  with  the  impression  that 
the  people  were  less  informed  than  those  who  lived  in  re- 
gions longer  settled ;  but  he  soon  found  his  error.  On  the 
contrary,  he  says  he  has  never  met  with  a  community  of 
men  generally  more  intelligent,  more  imbued  with  strong 
common  sense,  more  patriotic  in  sentiment,  and  more  gen- 
erous in  their  feelings  than  he  found  in  Coos  county. 
Among  these  people  he  laid  in  a  large  store  of  practical 
knowledge  both  of  men  and  things. 

But  to  resume  the  thread  of  our  narrative.  His  connec- 
tion with  the  Argus  was  Mr.  Burke's  first  introduction  to 
the  editorial  profession,  and  perhaps  the  foundation  of  his 
subsequent  political  career.  Of  course,  the  Argus,  under 
his  control,  was  a  political  paper,  democratic  in  its  poli- 
tics, and  of  very  decided  character.  After  publishing  the 
Argus  in  Claremont  till  the  autumn  of  1834,  Mr.  Burke 
was  induced  to  remove  with  his  paper  to  the  neighboring 
town  of  Newport,  where,  with  the  exception  of  a  residence 
of  five  years  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  he  has 
ever  since  resided,  and  now  resides.  A  short  period  after 
his  removal,  the  Argus  was  united  with  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Spectator,  another  democratic  paper  pubhshed  in 
44 


518  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

Newport,  the  new  paper  assuming  the  title  of  Argus  and 
Spectator,  and  being  also  under  the  editorial  control  of 
Mr.  Burke.  Our  space  Avill  not  permit  us  to  comment 
particularly  on  Mr.  Burke's  career  as  an  editor  while  in 
charge  of  the  Argus  and  Spectator.  It  is  sufficient  to  say, 
that,  under  his  control,  that  journal  advocated  with  great 
zeal  the  radical  doctrines  of  the  party  to  whose  interests  it 
was  devoted,  and,  Ave  believe,  to  the  very  general  satisfac- 
tion of  its  patrons.  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Burke  to  say,  that 
he  started  some  doctrines  in  the  columns  of  the  Argus  and 
Spectator  which  were  regarded  by  some  of  his  own  sup- 
porters as  rather  novel  and  startling  at  the  time,  but  which 
have  since  become  cherished  articles  of  faith  in  the  demo- 
cratic creed. 

So  industriously  and  ably  had  Mr.  Burke  conducted  his 
paper,  that  at  the  end  of  three  years  he  had  acquii-ed  a 
reputation  as  a  political  writer,  which  induced  the  late 
Ex-President  Polk  and  the  late  Felix  M.  Grundy,  then 
United  States  senator,  of  Tennessee,  to  oifer  Mr.  Burke 
the  editorship  of  the  Union,  the  leading  democratic  or^an 
of  that  state,  published  at  Northville,  at  a  high  salary. 
Mr.  Burke  accepted  the  offer,  and  published  his  valedic- 
tory in  the  Argus  and  Spectator,  preparatory  to  his  mi- 
grating to  Tennessee.  But  many  of  his  patrons,  hearing 
of  his  intention,  proposed  to  him  to  remain ;  and  as  an  in- 
ducement, they  offered  him  the  nomination  for  Congress, 
then,  by  the  usages  of  his  party,  due  to  Sullivan  county. 
This  high  and  ^unexpected  compliment  an  aspiring  and 
ambitious  yoimg  man  could  not  decline.  He  accordingly 
permitted  his  name  to  be  used,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  nomination.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  1838.  In 
the  election  of  March,  1839,  Mr.  Burke,  with  his  col- 
leagues on  the  democratic  ticket,  was  elected  a  representa- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES,  519 

tive  for  New  Hampshire  iu  the  twenty-sixth  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  being  then  but  thirty  years  of  age.  He 
took  his  seat  in  that  body  at  the  commencement  of  the 
session  of  1839—40,  and  was  subsequently  twice  reelect- 
ed, making,  in  the  whole,  a  congressional  terra  of  six 
years. 

In  referring  to  his  congressional  career,  we  think  we  do 
Mr.  Burke  no  more  than  justice  to  say  that  it  was  credit- 
able to  himself  and  honorable  to  the  state.  He  was  a  true 
party  man,  and  the  few  speeches  made  by  him  while  he 
was  a  member  were  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  measures  of  the  democratic  party.  They  secured 
to  their  author  great  popularity  with  his  party.  His  speech 
upon  the  independent  treasury,  and  also  his  speech  upon 
the  tariff,  are  monuments  of  intellectual  labor,  of  which 
any  man  may  be  proud.  They  bear  the  marks  of  profound 
and  critical  research.  But  there  is  one  speech,  delivered 
by  Mr.  Burke  while  a  member  of  Congress,  which  com- 
manded the  applause  of  all  his  constituents,  without  dis- 
tinction of  party.  We  allude  to  his  eloquent  and  beautiful 
defence  of  our  state  against  the  rude  and  unprovoked  at- 
tack of  a  Mr.  Arnold,  a  member  from  Tennessee.  We 
have  seldom  read  a  retort  so  condensed,  conclusive,  and 
overwhelming.  This  effort  alone  entitles  Mr.  Burke  to 
the  gratitude  and  praise  of  every  true  son  of  New  Hamp- 
4  shire,  and  fully  justifies  his  claim  to  the  high  regards  of 
the  native-born  citizens  of  the  Griuaite  State.  While  a 
member  of  Congress  he  was  also  an  active,  industrious,  and 
efficient  member  of  important  committees. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Burke's  congressional  career,  which 
was  in  the  spring  of  1845,  his  party  having  been  successful 
in  the  preceding  presidential  election,  he  was,  without  so- 
licitation or  knowledge  on  his  part,  tendered,  by  Mr.  Folk, 


520  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    ^IS    IT    IS. 

the  new  president,  the  office  of  commissioner  of  patents, 
which  he  accepted,  and  upon  the  duties  of  which  he  en- 
tered on  the  5th  day  of  May,  1845.  He  continued  to 
perform  the  duties  of  that  office  until  the  accession  of  Gen- 
eral Taylor  to  the  presidency,  when  he  was  superseded  by 
Mr.  Ewbank,  of  New  York.  In  the  discharge  of  the  du- 
ties of  this  office,  Mr.  Burke  displayed  the  same  indefat- 
igable habits  of  industry,  and  the  same  close  and  critical 
research  which  had  distinguished  him  in  other  positions. 
His  reports,  while  commissioner  of  patents,  embraced  a 
vast  amount  of  valuable  information,  gathered  from  a  wide 
field  of  investigation,  and  presented  in  a  form  which  made 
them  both  acceptable  and  popular  with  the  country.  Under 
Mr.  Burke's  administration  the  patent  office  assumed  a 
position  and  importance  which  it  had  never  before  enjoyed, 
and  contributed  its  full  share  to  the  popularity  of  Mr. 
Polk's  administration. 

But  while  Mr.  Burke  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of 
patents,  his  labors  were  not  altogether  confined  to  the  mere 
duties  of  his  office.  During  that  period  he  wrote  those 
papers  upon  the  tariff"  entitled  the  Bundelcund  Essays, 
originally  published  in  the  Washington  Union,  but  subse- 
quently in  pamphlet  form,  and  circulated  by  tens  of  thou- 
sands in  every  state  in  the  republic.  Eeferring  to  these 
papers,  a  writer  in  the  Democratic  Review  says,  "  After 
the  close  of  the  session  of  18-14  and  1845,  when  some  of 
our  timid  friends  began  to  express  doubts  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  attempting  to  carry  out  the  ])ledge  of  the  Balti- 
more Democratic  Convention  upon  the  question  of  the 
tariff,  Mr.  Burke,  appreciating  the  danger  which  this  hesi- 
tation threatened  to  the  policy  of  the  democratic  party, 
boldly  stepped  forward  as  its  champion,  and  contributed  to 
the  columns  of  the  Union  the  well-known  series  of  essays 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  521 

on,  or  rather  against,  the  protection  system,  published  over 
the  signature  of  Bundelcund.  Nothing  before  emanating 
from  his  fruitful  pen  had  so  served  to  spread  his  fame  ; 
for  they  were  immediately  republished,  wholly  or  in  part, 
in  nearly  every  democratic  paper  in  the  Union,  and  from 
their  appearance  until  the  final  vote  on  the  tariff  in  1846, 
were  the  object  of  incessant  and  virulent  attacks  from  the 
opposition.  The  democratic  party,  with  few  exceptions, 
planted  themselves  firmly  on  the  principles  there  laid  down 
by  Mr.  Burke,  which,  being  adopted  by  the  committee  of 
ways  and  means  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  by 
the  treasury  department,  were  made  the  basis  of  the  rev- 
enue law  so  triumphantly  passed  on  the  30th  of  July, 
1846." 

After  Mr.  Burke  retired  from  the  patent  office,  he 
formed  a  connection  with  the  late  celebrated  Thomas 
Ritchie,  by  which  he  became  a  joint  editor  of  the  AVash- 
ington  Union.  He  remained  connected  with  the  Union 
one  year,  during  which  he  contributed  a  large  amount  of 
the  editorial  matter  Avhich  appeared  in  its  columns.  He 
had  also,  while  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  patent  office, 
been  a  liberal  contributor  to  that  paper,  as  well  to  its  edi- 
torial columns  as  in  the  shape  of  communications.  And 
we  may  truthfully  add,  that  he  has,  for  the  last  twenty 
years,  been  an  industrious  and  fertile  writer,  as  the  col- 
umns of  many  newspapers  can  attest,  and  has  achieved,  by 
his  labors  in  connection  Avith  the  press,  a  high  position 
among  the  editorial  profession. 

The  term  of  Mr.  Burke's  connection  with  the  Washing- 
ton Union  having  expired,  he,  in  the  summer  of  1850, 
returned,  with  his  family,  to  his  residence  in  Newport,  in 
this  state,  Avhcre  he  now  remains,  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  employing  hiniseU'  in  those  literary  pur- 
44*  ^ 


522  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

suits  congenial  to  a  man  of  taste,  and  necessary  to  an  active 
mind  imbued  with  a  desire  for  the  accumulation  of  knowl- 
edge. Mr.  Burke  is  now  in  the  very  vigor  of  his  facul- 
ties, and  we  trust  has  many  years  of  active  and  useful  life 
in  store  for  him. 

In  conclusion  we  will  add,  that  Mr.  Burke  is  truly  a 
self-made  man.  In  the  outset  of  his  career,  he  had  no 
friends  possessed  of  wealth  and  influence  to  aid  him.  He 
had  to  depend  upon  himself  alone.  The  writer  of  this 
has  heard  him  remark  that  he  graduated  at  a  common 
village  school,  having  never  attended  an  academy  or  col- 
lege a  day  in  his  life,  and  having  had  no  other  assistance 
or  tuition  than  that  which  he  received  while  acquiring  a 
sufficiency  of  Latin  preparatory  to  entering  upon  his  legal 
studies.  And  he  has  informed  us  that  he  ceased  to  attend 
the  village  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  having  never  at- 
tended any  school  subsequent  to  that  period.  His  success 
in  life  is  a  bright  example  of  industry,  perseverance,  and 
energy,  which  we  commend  to  the  youth  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances who  has  the  ambition  to  aspire  to  the  higher 
positions  of  usefulness  and  honor  in  society. 

CHARLES   G.  ATHERTON. 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Atherton  was  born  in  Amherst,  July 
4,  180-4.  His  father  was  Hon.  Charles  H.  Atherton,  Avho 
had  served  as  representative  to  Congress  in  1815  and 
1816,  and  for  many  years  held  the  office  of  register  of  pro- 
bate for  the  county  of  Hillsborough. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  Harvard  University 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1822.  Immediately  after  his  admission  to  the 
bar  in  1825,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Dunstable,  now 


mOCRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES.  523 

Nashua.  la  1827  he  was  appouited  solicitor  for  Hillsbor- 
ough county.  In  1831  he  was  elected  representative  to  the 
state  legislature  from  Dunstable,  and  again  four  years  in 
succession,  (183-3,  ''i4:,  'So,  and  '36,)  in  each  of  which  years 
he  was  elected  speaker.  In  1834,  at  his  election  as  speaker, 
he  had  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  house  except  thirteen  ;  in 
1835  he  had  them  all  but  five  ;  and  in  18136  all  but  three. 
In  1837  he  was  elected  representative  in  Congress  from 
New  Hampshire,  and  held  his  seat  in  the  house  for  three 
terms  in  succession.  In  18-13  he  was  elected  by  the  legis- 
lature United  States  senator,  which  office  he  held  till  March 
4,  1849.  In  1850  he  was  elected  a  delegate,  from  the  late 
town  of  Nashville,  in  the  New  Hampshire  Constitutional 
Convention.  At  the  fall  session  of  the  legislature  in  1852, 
he  was  elected  United  States  senator  from  this  state,  and 
took  his  seat  on  the  4th  of  March  following,  which  office 
he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Athertou  had  no  superior  in  the  state. 
His  attainments  in  the  common  law,  as  well  as  in  equity 
jurisprudence,  were  very  extensive  and  thorough.  In  the 
management  of  a  case  he  showed  most  masterly  and  con- 
summate skill ;  and  in  presenting  the  strong  points  to  a 
jury,  he  had  few  equals.  He  was  an  accomplished  advo- 
cate ;  in  which  character  he  exhibited  a  power  of  com- 
manding, at  the  instant,  all  the  resources  of  his  mind,  and 
a  dexterity  of  applying  them  seldom  exceeded.  As  a  sen- 
atorial orator,  his  claims  were  of  a  high  order.  During 
the  administration  of  Mr.  Polk,  he  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  finance  —  one  of  the  most  important  com- 
mittees in  the  Senate,  particularly  during  Mr.  Polk's  ad- 
ministration, which  was  occupied  with  the  successful  con- 
duct of  a  foreign  war.  In  opposition  were  Mr.  Webster, 
then  in  the  very  acme  of  his  intellectual  strength,  vigor. 


524  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

and  experience,  as  well  as  other  formidable  opponents.  In 
all  the  contests  and  opposition  which  these  distinguished 
opponents  of  the  administration  brought  to  bear  against  the 
policy  of  the  administration,  Mr.  Atherton,  in  his  defence 
of  the  financial  policy  of  President  Polk,  acquitted  himself 
with  consummate  ability,  prudence,  and  skill. 

His  literary  attainments  were  of  a  high  order.  Few, 
if  any,  in  this  country,  had  a  more  thorough  and  minute 
knowledge  of  American  and  English  history  and  statesmen 
than  he.  He  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  English 
literature  and  poetiy,  particularly  with  that  of  Queen 
Anne's  time  —  the  golden  age  of  English  literature,  in 
whose  gorgeous  and  captivating  creations  he  delighted. 
He  died  November   15,   1853. 


LEWIS  CASS. 

Lewis  Cass  was  born  in  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  on 
the  9th  day  of  October,  ITiSS.  His  father.  Major  Jona- 
than Cass,  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  who  enlisted  as 
a  private  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Lexington.  He  served 
in  the  army  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  in  all  the 
important  battles  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  where 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  valor  and  good  conduct, 
and  attained  the  rank  of  captain.  He  Avas  afterwards  a 
major  in  Wayne's  army,  and,  after  a  life  of  usefulness  and 
honor,  died  at  an  advanced  age,  at  his  residence  near  Dres- 
den, in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  His  son,  Lewis  Cass, 
the  subject  of  this  biography,  emigrated,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  to  the  then  North-western  Territory,  and  settled 
first  at  Marietta,  in  the  county  of  Washington.  He  was 
thus,  as  he  was  recently  called  by  the  Convention  of  Ohio, 
one  of  the  "  early  pioneers  "  of  that  immense  western  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  526 

gion,  which  has  already  risen  to  such  a  niaguitude  in  our 
own  days,  and  is  destined  to  attain  one  so  much  greater 
hereafter.  The  country  north  of  the  Ohio  then  contained 
one  territory  and  about  20,000  people. 

Mr.  Cass  bore  his  full  share  in  the  toils,  privations,  and 
dangers  to  which  the  defence  of  a  new  country,  and  its 
conversion  from  a  primitive  forest  to  the  happy  abodes  of 
civilized  man,  are  necessarily  exposed.  He  read  law  at 
Marietta,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  ])efore  the  close  of 
the  territorial  government.  He  commenced  the  practice, 
and,  as  was  the  custom  then,  visited  the  courts  in  a  large 
district  of  country,  travelling  on  horseback,  and  encounter- 
ing many  difficulties  unknown  to  the  members  of  the  bar 
at  the  present  day. 

In  1806  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  of 
Ohio,  and  during  the  session  he  took  his  part  in  the  busi- 
ness of  the  day.  He  draughted  the  law  which  arrested 
the  traitorous  designs  of  Burr,  and  introduced  an  address 
to  Mr.  Jefferson,  which  was  unanimously  adopted,  express- 
ing the  attachment  of  the  people  of  Ohio  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  and  their  confidence  in  that  illus- 
trious man.  In  March,  1807,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr. 
Jefferson  marshal  of  Ohio. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  held  the 
rank  of  colonel  under  General  Hull.  Just  previous  to  the 
surrender  of  Detroit  by  General  Hull,  Colonels  Cass  and 
McArthur  had  been  sent,  with  a  small  detachment,  a  few 
miles  distant,  ostensibly  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  pro- 
vision, and  before  their  return  Detroit  was  surrendered 
without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  So  disgraceful,  as  well  as 
humiliating,  did  this  act  appear,  in  the  mind  of  Colonel  Cass, 
that,  when  ordered  to  deliver  up  his  sword,  he  indignantly 
shivered  it  in  pieces,  and,  strewing  the  fragments  upon  the 


526  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

ground,  declared  that  in  like  manner  should  his  body  be 
divided  and  scattered  before  he  would  in  any  way  assent 
to  so  ignoble  an  act. 

At  the  battle  of  St.  Thomas  he  bore  a  conspicuous  part, 
and  was  highly  complimented  by  General  Harrison.  In 
1813  he  was  appointed  by  President  Madison  governor  of 
Michigan,  at  that  time  one  of  the  most  important  offices  with- 
in the  gift  of  the  executive.  As  superintendent  of  Indian 
aflfairs,  he  rendered  vast  and  important  services  to  his  coun- 
try, having  formed  twenty-one  treaties  with  various  Indian 
tribes,  thus  extinguishing  their  title  to  nearly  one  million 
acres  of  land.  In  1831  General  Cass  was  called  upon  by 
President  Jackson  to  take  charge  of  the  war  department  — 
a  position  for  which  he  was  eminently  fitted,  and  the  du- 
ties of  which  he  discharged  with  energy  and  general  satis- 
faction to  the  country.  In  1836  he  was  appointed  minister 
to  France,  and  immediately  resigned  his  position  as  secre- 
tary of  war.  The  position  which  he  took  in  1841  in  rela- 
tion to  the  question  of  the  famous  quintuple  treaty  will 
long  be  held  in  remembx'ance  by  his  countrymen.  In  1848 
he  received  the  nomination  of  the  democratic  national  con- 
vention for  president  of  the  United  States.  In  1850  he 
was  once  more  elected  senator  of  the  United  States  for 
Michigan.  His  long  and  useful  services  in  .public  life  have 
rendered  him  world-renowned  as  a  statesman,  while  his 
fame  as  a  scholar  is  scarcely  less  limited.  Plain  and  un- 
assuming in  his  manners,  kind  and  social  in  his  intercourse 
with  his  fellow-men,  he  will  always  stand  prominent  in  the 
records  of  history  as  a  true  patriot,  an  able  statesman,  and 
a  worthy  citizen. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  527 


LEVI   WOODBURY* 


Levi  Woodbury,  the  eldest  son  of  Hon.  Peter  Wood- 
bury, was  born  in  Francestown,  New  Hampshire,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1790.  His  ancestors  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  which  Avas  one 
of  the  earliest  plantations  of  that  colony.  From  his  child- 
hood he  was  trained  to  those  habits  of  industry  and  rigid 
economy  which  so  generally  characterize  the  people  of  New 
England.  His  early  education  was  acquired  at  the  district 
school  in  his  native  village  during  the  winter  months,  when 
the  labor  of  agriculture  is  suspended.  While  but  a  mere 
boy,  he  distinguished  himself  for  his  unremitted  application 
to  study,  and  even  then  exhibited  that  zeal  in  the  pursuit 
of  knowledge,  readiness  of  apprehension,  sound  sense,  and 
decision  of  character  which  so  emphatically  marked  the 
whole  course  of  his  life. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  graduated  at  Dartmouth  ^ 
College,  with  a  high  reputation  for  talents  and  acquire- 
ments, and  immediately  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the 
legal  profession.  He  passed  one  year  at  the  law  school  in 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  and  divided  the  residue  of  his  pre- 
paratory term  between  Boston,  Exeter,  and  his  native  town. 

In  1812  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  By  diligent  atten- 
tion to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  he  soon  obtained  an 
extensive  and  reputable  practice,  and  acquired  for  himself 
a  rank  at  a  bar  at  which  lawyers  who  are  among  the  most 
distinguished  in  the  Union  have  practised. 

Even  while  a  student,  Mr.  Woodbury's  ardent  tempera- 
ment would  not  suffer  him  to  remain  an  inactive  spectator 
of  the  political   struggles  that  then  agitated  the   country 

•  See  plate. 


528  >'E"SV    }IAMPSHIKE    AS    IT    IS. 

with  more  intensity,  probably,  than  at  any  other  period 
of  its  history  ;  and,  accordingly,  we  find  him  mingling 
in  the  strife,  and  taking  part  upon  the  side  of  democ- 
racy. 

In  1816^  the  political  character  of  the  state  became 
changed.  Mr.  Woodbury  was  invited  to  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment, to  discharge  the  duties  of  secretary  of  the  Senate, 
and  at  the  commencement  of  the  following  year  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  Superior  Court. 

Promoted  to  a  seat  in  the  highest  judicial  tribunal  of  the 
state  at  an  earlier  age  than  any  former  precedent,  some  ap- 
prehension was  felt  lest  his  legal  learning  and  experience 
should  prove  inadequate  to  the  creditable  discharge  of  its  du- 
ties. The  result,  however,  more  than  realized  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  most  sanguine  friends.  His  patience,  firmness, 
familiarity  with  legal  principles,  and  suavity  of  manners 
made  him  a  most  acceptable  and  popular  judge  in  jury 
trials,  and  the  first  two  volumes  of  the  New  Hampshire  Re- 
ports bear  ample  testimony  to  the  diligence,  great  research, 
and  accurate  discrimination  which  he  brought  to  beax  in 
the  preparation  of  his  judicial  opinions. 

In  1819  Mr.  Woodbury  removed  to  Portsmouth,  where 
he  resided  during  his  life,  except  while  a  member  of  the 
cabinet  under  the  administrations  of  Jackson  and  Van 
Buren. 

In  1823  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state,  and  the 
year  following  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
Plis  legal  erudition  and  forensic  talents  secured  him  clients 
from  all  parts  of  the  state,  and  placed  him  at  once  in  a  lu- 
crative practice. 

His  fellow-citizens  were  not  content,  hoAvever,  to  suffer 
him  long  to  remain  in  the  quiet  of  professional  life  ;  and 
in  1825  they  sent  him  a  representative  to  the  legislature  of 


BIOOUAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  5^ 

the  state  ;  and  ut  the  commencement  of  the  session,  having 
never  befo/c  been  a  member  of  a  legislative  body,  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house,  and  at  the  close  of  the  session 
was  selected  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  United  States  Senate. 

His  reputation  for  learning  and  talents  had  gone  before 
him,  and  on  taking  his  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
Mr.  Woodbury  was  regarded  as  the  principal  organ  for  the 
democracy  of  New  England  in  that  body ;  and  during  the 
administration  of  President  Adams,  on  more  than  one  oc- 
casion he  stood*  forth  in  bold  and  able  vindication  of  his 
party  and  its  principles,  from  the  attacks  of  the  opposition, 
particularly  in  the  discussion  upon  Foot's  resolution  re- 
specting the  public  lands. 

At  the  second  session  of  Mr.  Woodbury'^  term,  his 
name  appears  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce, 
and  as  member  of  several  other  important  committees. 

In  the  course  of  his  senatorial  career,  many  able  reports 
emanated  from  his  pen,  and  his  speeches  upon  a  variety  of 
subjects  are  fine  specimens  of  varied  learning,  comprehen- 
sive reasoning,  and  sound  logic. 

During  the  vacations  his  time  was  occupied  in  the  care 
of  his  family,  and  in  the  management  of  important  causes 
in  the  Superior  Court  of  his  own  state.  But  the  annual  ab- 
sence from  his  family,  and  his  professional  duties,  exposed 
him  to  great  sacrifices,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  transmitted  a  letter  to  the  governor,  declining  a  reelec- 
tion. A  few  days  after  he  was  chosen  L^tate  senator ;  and 
ere  the  reorganization  of  the  cabinet  in  April  following,  the 
office  of  secretary  of  the  navy  was  tciidered  to  him  and 
accepted. 

His  industry,  and  his  prompt  und  methodical  manner  of 
doing  business,  were  soon  felt  in  this  department  of  the  gov- 
ernment, and  the  general  satisfaction  which  he  gave  in  the 
45 


^0,  Ng^    ^4^PSHIRE    A8    IT   IS. 

^isfliarge  of  its  various  and  perplexing  duties  is  suJSicieiit 
e'^idence  of  the  ability  with  which  they  were  performed. 

In  1833  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Taney  for  secretary  of 
the  treasury  by  President  Jackson  having  been  rejected 
by  the  Senate,  Mr.  Woodbury  received  the  nomination,  and 
was  confirmed  without  opposition. 

Placed  at  the  head  of  the  financial  affiiirs  of  the  country, 
in  the  heat  of  that  fierce  struggle  Avhich  grew  out  of  the 
mismanagement  of  the  national  bank,  and  the  consequent 
removal  from  it  of  the  government  deposits,  Mr.  Wood- 
bury found  himself  in  a  situation  which  the  most  masterly 
abilities  seemed  inadequate  to  sustain.  The  i;equel,  howev- 
er, affords  another  proof  of  the  consummate  knowledge  of 
human  nature  and  accurate  estimate  of  character  displayed 
by  President  Jackson  in  the  selection  of  his  officers. 

The  indomitable  energy,  the  never-failing  firmness  of 
purpose,  the  comprehension,  sagacity,  and  unwavering 
fidelity  to  the  public  interests  which  had  previously  charac- 
terized Mr.  Woodbury,  shone  nov/  even  more  conspicuously, 
and  triumphantly  sustained  him  for  the  period  of  seven 
years  in  the  discharge  of  the  arduous  duties  of  this  office. 

The  official  reports  of  Mr.  Woodbury  during  this  period 
are  replete  with  important  statistical  information  and  able 
reasoning  upon  the  various  subjects  of  national  policy.         , 

In  1838,  when  the  labors  of  his  department  were  bear- 
ing heavily  upon  him,  the  office  of  chief  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  his  native  state  was  tendered  him. 
Not  insensible  to  this  honorable  tribute  from  those  who 
best  knew  him,  Mr.  Woodbury  was  not  the  man  to  consult 
his  ease  when  duty  reqiiTred  him  to  remain  at  the  post  of 
public  labor,  however  onerous  it  might  be,  and  therefore 
waived  his  own  predilections  for  that  dignified  station,  and 
d,pclined  it. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  531 

At  the  expiration  of  Van  Burcn's  administration,  he  re- 
signed his  office  of  secretary,  and  on  the  following  day 
took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  to  which  he  had 
been  elected  by  the  legislature  of  Ne\V  Hampshire. 

Soon  after  the  inauguration  of  President  Polk,  it  is  gen- 
erally understood,  Mr.  AVoodbury  Avas  invited  to  represent 
our  government  at  the  court  of  St.  James ;  but  family  con- 
siderations led  him  to  decline  the  honor.  A  vacancy  hav- 
ing occurred  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  by  the 
death  of  Judge  Story,  the  appointment  Avas  offered  to  Mr. 
"Woodbury  and  accepted,  which  office  he  continued  to  hold 
until  his  death,  September  4,  1851. 

FRATSKLIN  PIERCE* 

Was  born  in  Hillsborough,  New  Hampshire,  November 
23,  180-1.  At  the  period  of  his  birth,  Hillsborough  county 
could  reckon  among  its  sons  many  who  had  already  attained 
the  highest  distinction,  besides  nuuiy  others  who  were  des- 
tinigd  to  occupy  the  highest  lanl;  in  public  life.  General 
Stark,  Daniel  Webster,  Levi  Woodbury,  Jei-emiah  Smith, 
General  James  Miller,  General  McNeil,  the  late  Hon.  Charles 
G.  Atherton,  were  natives  of  this  county.  General  Ben- 
jamin Pierce,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Hillsborough,  and  con- 
tributed much  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  his  adopted 
town  and  county.  He  was  born  in  Chelmsford,'  now  Low- 
ell, Massachusetts,  iu  the  year  1757.  When  the  news 
of  the  battle  of  Lexington  reached  him,  he  was  laboring 
at  the  plough ;  and  immediately  loosening  the  ox  chain, 
leaving  the  plough  in  the  furrow,  he  took  his  uncle's 
gun  and  equipments,  and  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action. 

•  See  plate 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

He  at  once  enlisted  in  the  army,  was  present  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  and  after  serving  through  the  whole  revo- 
lutionary war,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  eight  years,  re- 
turned to  his  home  a  thorough  soldier,  and  commander  of 
a  company.  In  1785  he  purchased  a  fifty  acre  lot  in  the 
present  town  of  Hillsborough,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  built  a  log  hut,  commenced  clearing  and  cul- 
tivating his  tract,  and  in  1787  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Andrews,  who  died  within  a  year  after  their  union.  In 
1789  he  married  Anna  Kendrick,  who  bore  him  eight 
children,  the  sixth  of  whom  Avas  the  future  president  of 
these  United  States.  At  the  opening  of  the  war  of  1812 
Franklin  Pierce  was  nearly  eight  years  of  age.  Two  of 
his  brothers  were  connected  with  the  army,  and  Major 
McNeil  was  about  this  time  married  to  his  eldest  sister, 
the  daughter  and  only  child  of  the  first  wife,  Elizabeth 
Andrews.  His  fiitlier  was  active  and  energetic  in  his  sup- 
port of  the  war,  and  engaged  with  patriotic  zeal  in  the 
discussion  of  those  exciting  questions  which  then  wholly 
absorbed  the  public  mind.  .  His  son  Franklin  was  a  fre- 
quent and  earnest  listener  to  these  discussions.  No  mode 
of  education  could  be  better  adapted  to  imbue  him  with 
the  principles  of  true  democracy,  the  nature  and  spirit  of 
republican  institutions.  His  father  had  felt  through  life 
the  disadvantages  of  a  defective  education,  and  determined, 
if  possible,  that  his  children  should  enjoy  more  largely  of 
these  blessings  than  had  fallen  to  his  lot.  Franklin  was  se- 
lected as  the  one  to  receive  a  collegiate  education.  Accord- 
ingly we  find  him,  while  a  mere  boy,  at  the  academy  in  Han- 
cock; next  at  that  in  Francestown ;  and  in  1820,  at  the  age 
of  16,  a  student  in  the  freshman  class  of  Bowdoin  College 
in  Brunswick,  Maine.  Duiing  the  first  two  years  of  his 
college  life  he  was  so  inattentive  to  his  studies,  that,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  junior  year,  he  found  his  position  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  533 

scholarship  below  that  of  any  of  his  classmates.  Deeply 
mortified  by  this  humiliating  proof  of  self-injustice,  he  de- 
termined to  close  his  college  career  at  once,  and  according- 
ly absented  himself  from  all  recitations  for  several  days, 
hoping  that  suspension,  or  even  expulsion,  might  be  the 
result  of  such  continued  and  systematic  neglect.  The  fac- 
ulty, however,  wisely,  as  well  as  leniently,  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  this  conduct ;  and  at  lust,  stimulated  by  reflection, 
and  moved  by  the  earnest  entreaties  of  a  few  college 
friends,  he  resolved  to  return  to  his  duties,  observing  to  his 
companions,  "If  I  do  so,  you  shall  see  a  change."  There 
was  indeed  a  change.  For  three  months  afterwards  he 
rose  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  closely  applied  himself  to 
his  studies,  allowing  himself  only  four  hours  for  sleep.  He 
never  suflfered  himself  after  this  to  go  into  the  recitation 
room  -without  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subject  in  con- 
sideration ;  and  notwithstanding  the  low  standard  of  his 
scholarship  during  the  first  half  of  his  college  course,  he 
at  last  graduated  as  the  third  scholar  in  his  class.  In  this 
rigorous  discipline  he  acquired  that  full  command  over  his 
intellectual  faculties,  that  power  of  concentrating  all  his 
mental  energies  at  once  upon  the  object  to  be  gained,  and 
that  perfect  self-control,  so  essential  to  success,  which  have 
since  characterized,  to  say  the  least,  ail  his  greater  eflforts, 
both  as  a  lawyer  and  politician.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  the  oflSce  of  the  late  Judge  Woodbury, 
the  last  two  years  of  professional  study  being  spent  at  the 
law  school  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  in  the  of- 
fice of  Judge  Parker,  in  Amherst.  In  1827  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  his  native  town.  Here,  also,  his  first  effort  was,  as  is 
generally  expressed,  a  failure.  In  more  appropriate  terms, 
he  was  unsuccessful  so  far  as  the  interest  of  his  cUent  was 
45* 


&84  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

involved.  This  defeat,  however,  only  served  to  arouse  hi« 
latent  energies,  and,  on  the  whole,  was  doubtless  more 
beneficial  to  him  than  the  most  brilliant  success  would  have 
been.  That*  he  was  possessed  largely  .of  that  firmness  and 
perseverance  which  overcomes  all  obstacles,  and  welcomes 
disappointment  in  a  worthy  cause,  as  a  noble  incentive  to 
vigorous  and  unwearied  action,  is  evident  in  the  reply  to  a 
friend  who,  fearing  lest  he  might  be  discouraged,  sought  to 
raise  his  spirits  with  bright  prospects  in  the  future.  "  I 
do  not  need  that,"  he  answered;  "I  will  try  nine  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  cases,  if  clients  will  continue  to  trust 
me,  and,  if  I  fail  just  as  I  have  to-day,  will  try  the  thou- 
sandth. I  shall  live  to  argue  cases  in  this  court  house  in  a 
manner  that  will  mortify  neither  myself  nor  my  friends." 
It  was  not,  however,  until  after  several  years  of  toil  that  he 
attained  a  position  of  eminence  at  the  bar.  His  progress 
was  gradual,  but  sure.  In  1829  he  was  chosen  representa- 
tive to  the  state  legislature  from  his  native  town.  He  was 
a  member  of  that  body  four  years,  the  two  latter  of  which 
he  was  speaker  of  the  house.  He  was  endowed,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  with  capacities  adapted  to  the  arduous  du- 
ties and  responsibilities  of  that  station  —  courtesy,  firmness, 
accuracy  of  judgment,  clearness  and  quickness  of  percep- 
tion, that  readily  separated  truth  from  error,  and  unravelled 
the  complicated  texture  of  long  and  exciting  debate.  His 
merit  as  a  presiding  oflflcer  was  generally  acknowledged. 
Pie  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  in  1833,  at  the  age 
of  29  years  —  young  indeed  for  the  station,  as  he  always  has 
been  for  every  public  position  which  he  has  occupied.  His 
congressional  life,  though  destitute  of  brilliant  but  empty 
show,  was  full  of  labor  and  usefulness.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  judiciary  and  other  important  committees  Avhere  the 
most  valuable  services  are  generally  attended  with  the  least 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKtrCMfiS.  58B 

display.  He  was  ardently  attached  to  President  JackitfOftj 
;md  entered  with  zeal  and  ability  into  the  support  b!f 
the  administration.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  m 
Representatives  four  years.  In  1837,  when  he  scarce  had 
attained  the  age  required  by  law  for  such  elevatidn^  hfe 
was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  Afe  thfe 
youngest  member  of  that  body,  he  took  his  seat  among 
the  greatest  of  American  statesmen,  orators,  and  scholart. 
Webster,  Clay,  Calhoun,  Benton,  Silas  Wright,  WoodbOry, 
Buchanan,  and  Walker  were  his  peers. 

In  that  august  body  Iiis  counsels  were  characterized  hf 
so  thorough  a  knowledge  of  human  nature,  by  so  much  solid 
common  sense,  and  by  such  devotion  to  democratic  princi- 
ples, that,  although  the  youngest  of  the  senators,  it  was 
deemed  important  by  the  leaders  of  his  party  to  submit 
their  plans  to  his  judgment.  In  1842  he  resigned  his  seat 
as  senator  for  the  quiet,  but  to  him  attractive  scenes  of 
private  life,  in  the  circle  of  his  old  friends  and  neighbors, 
and  in  the  bosom  of  his  home.  In  1838  he  removed  frotli 
Hillsborough,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Concord,  thfe 
capital  of  New  Hampshire.  On  retiring  from  the  Senatfe 
he  returned  to  the  practice  of  law,  which  soon  became 
very  extensive.  As  an  advocate  he  was  unrivalled.  Courts 
listened  to  him  with  admiration,  and  juries  hung  with  iscp- 
ture  upon  his  lips.  The  earnestness  with  which  h6  eAi- 
gaged  in  the  cause  of  his  client,  his  complete  success  ih. 
making  it  his  own,  his  honorable  bearing,  his  ability'  tb 
.convince  the  hearer  of  his  earnest  desire  to  arrive  at  &ii& 
establish  the  truth,  are  doubtless  the  secret  of  his  powtft. 
His  labor,  also,  in  the  preparation  of  his  cases  was  unretnJf- 
ting. 

In  1846  he  was  offered,  by  President  Polk,  the  officfc  df 
attorney  general  of  the  United  States,  Which  offer  he  f^ 


936  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

spectfully  declined,  alleging,  as  the  chief  reason,  his 
**  fixed  purpose  never  again  to  be  voluntarily  separated 
from  his  family  for  any  considerable  length  of  time,  except 
at  the  call  of  his  country  in  time  of  war."  The  existence 
of  the  Mexican  war  he  regarded  as  such  call,  and  at  once 
laid  aside  his  long-cherished  plans  of  spending  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  in  a  private  station.  He  enrolled  himself 
among  the  first  in  a  company  of  volunteers  raised  in  Con- 
cord, and  went  through  the  regular  drill  as  a  private. 
Soon  after  he  received  the  appointment  of  colonel  of  the 
ninth  regiment,  and  in  March,  1847,  was  commissioned 
brigadier  general  in  the  army,  his  brigade  being  made  up 
of  regiments  from  the  extreme  north,  the  extreme  west, 
and  the  extreme  south  of  the  Union.  He  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Contreras,  and  all  those  severe  contests  which 
preceded  the  entry  of  General  Scott,  with  his  victorious 
army,  into  the  city  of  Mexico  ;  and  although,  in  the  battle 
of  Contreras,  he  suffered  a  severe  and  painful  injury  by  the 
felling  of  his  horse,  yet  he  acquitted  himself  with  so  much 
ability  as  to  gain  the  full  confidence  of  his  distinguished 
leader  and  afterwards  unsuccessful  rival  in  the  presidential 
campaign.  After  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  Santa  Anna 
having  sent  a  flag  of  truce  with  proposals  for  negotiating 
for  peace,  General  Pierce  was  appointed,  by  the  commander- 
in-chief,  one  of  the  commissioners  to  arrange  the  terms  of 
the  armistice.  Among  officers  and  soldiers  he  Avas  re- 
spected and  beloved  for  his  humanity,  his  independence, 
firmness,  and  promptitude,  and  his  readiness  to  encounter 
any  danger,  or  submit  to  any  exposure  of  life  or  sacrifice 
of  personal  comfort.  After  his  return  to  his  native  state, 
in  accordance  with  an  act  of  the  legislature,  he  was  pre- 
aented  with  a  valuable  sword,  as  a  testimonial  of  his  valor 
and  warlike  conduct. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


587 


In  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  National  Convention 
met  in  Baltimore  to  select  a  candidate  for  the  presidency, 
and  continued  its  session  during  four  days.  Several  gen- 
tlemen of  known  and  distinguished  ability  were  prominent 
before  that  body,  and  received  the  zealous  and  unflinching 
support  of  their  respective  friends.  Thirty-five  ballotings 
were  held,  and  it  noAv  became  certain  that  no  one  of  those 
hitherto  supported  could  receive  the  nomination.  At  the 
thirty-sixth  ballot  the  name  of  General  Franklin  Pierce 
was  first  brought  forward  in  that  convention  by  the  dele- 
gation from  Virginia.  At  the  forty-ninth  ballot  the  votes 
for  General  Pierce  were  two  hundred  and  eighty-two 
against  eleven  for  all  other  candidates.  In  November  fol- 
lowing he  was  elected  to  the  highest  office  within  the  gift 
of  the  i:)eople  by  an  overwhelming  and  unprecedented  ma- 
jority. At  the  time  of  his  election  he  was  forty-eight 
years  of  age,  lacking  a  few  days,  being  younger  than  any 
of  his  predecessors.  The  news  of  his  election  was  received 
throughout  the  country  with  unusual  demonstrations  of 
joy  and  satisfaction.  And  even  among  his  political  oppo- 
nents in  New  England,  and  especially  in  his  native  state, 
not  a  few  were  proud  to  acknowledge  the  distinguished 
elevation  of  one  of  New  Hampshire's  most  favorite  sons. 
The  condition  of  things  at  home  and  abroad  render  it 
quite  probable  that  his  present  term  of  office  will  be  one 
of  the  most  eventful  and  important  of  any  that  has  yet 
transpired.  It  is  but  just  to  hope,  that  in  the  records  of 
history,  as  well  as  in  the  estimation  of  posterity,  his  name 
may  stand  high  among  those  of  his  illustrious  predecessors,, 
as  well  as  of  those  who  mav  come  after  him. 


5$S  NEW   HArtPSHIRE    AS    it   IS. 


JOHN   STARK. 

Major  General  John  Stark  was  born  in  Londonderry, 
New  Hampshire,  August  28,  1728.  His  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Glasgow,  in  Scotland,  and  removed  to  this  country, 
it  is  believed,  about  the  year  1719.  In  1736  he  settled  in 
Derryfield,  now  Manchester.  In  1752  young  Stark,  while 
on  a  hunting  expedition,  was  captured  by  a  party  of  St. 
Francis  Indians,  known  also  as  the  Abenaqui,  and  carried 
to  Canada.  He  was  redeemed,  by  a  friend  in  Boston,  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  three  dollars.  To  pay  this  he 
went  on  another  hunting  expedition  on  the  Androscoggin. 
During  the  French  and  Indian  war,  he  served  in  Rogers's 
company  of  rangers,  and  was  appointed  captain  in  1756. 
Hearing  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he  immediate- 
ly repaired  to  Cambridge,  where  he  received  a  colonel's 
commission,  and  on  the  same  day  enlisted  eight  hundred 
men.  He  fought  bravely  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
his  regiment  forming  a  portion  of  the  left  of  the  American 
line  —  its  only  defence  being  a  rail  enclosure  covered 
with  hay. 

He  went  to  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1776,  and  in  the 
attack  at  Trenton  commanded  the  van  of  the  right  wing. 
He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Princeton,  where  he  exhibited 
that  coolness  and  daring  so  peculiar  to  himself,  and  whicli 
never  failed  to  inspire  his  men  with  indomitable  courage. 
In  March,  1777,  he  resigned  his  commission,  and  retired 
to  his  farm.  This  was  owing  to  the  fact,  that,  when  prep- 
arations were  making  to  form  a  new  army  in  the  Eastern 
States  to  resist  the  progress  of  Burgoyne,  Congress  had 
promoted  several  junior  officers,  while  he  was  left  out  of 
the  list.  The  aggravation  of  this  neglect  was  greatly 
heightened  by  the  dcgiading  position  in  which  he  knew  he 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ^KEtCttlfi.  88^ 

Iftttat  be  placed  in  the  eyes  of  liis  brother  officers,  as  well  as 
the  soldiers.  The  main  army  had  gone  into  winter  quar- 
ters in  Morristowu,  and  Avhile  many  of  the  officers  were 
enjoying  their  ease,  he  returned  to  New  Hampshire  to  pro- 
cure recruits  ;  and  having  filled  his  regiments,  he  returned 
to  Exeter  to  await  orders.  Although  he  chose  to  be 
wholly  divested  of  military  authority  rather  than  suffer  the 
mortification  of  supersedure,  he  nevertheless  determined 
not  to  desert  his  country  in  the  hour  of  peril.  lie  was 
active  and  popular,  and  the  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire 
regarded  him  as  a  pillar  of  strength  in  upholding  the  con- 
fidence and  courage  of  the  militia  of  the  state.  The  As- 
sembly, notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  Congress,  offered 
him  the  command  of  its  oAvn  forces,  which  he  accepted, 
and  once  more  girded  on  his  sword,  and  marched  to  the 
battle  field,  stipulating,  however,  that  he  should  not  be 
obliged  to  join  the  main  army,  but  that  he  might  hang 
upon  the  wing  of  the  enemy  on  the  borders  of  his  state, 
strike  Avhen  opportunity  should  offer,  according  to  his  own 
discretion,  and  be  accountable  to  no  one  but  the  Assembly 
of  New  Hampshire.  Joy  pervaded  the  hearts  of  all  when 
it  was  known  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  the  command. 
The  militia  cheerfully  flocked  to  his  standard,  which  was 
first  raided  at  Charlestown,  and  then  at  Manchester,  twenty 
miles  north  of  Bennington.  There  he  met  General  Lin- 
coln, who  had  been  sent  by  General  Schuyler  to  conduct 
him  and  his  recruits  to  the  Hudson.  Stark  positively  re- 
fused to  go,  and  exhibited  the  written  terms  upon  which 
he  had  consented  to  enter  the  field  in  any  capacity.  His 
refusal  was  communicated  to  Congress,  and  that  body  re- 
solved that  the  instructions  of  the  Assembly  of  New  Hamp- 
shire were  "  destructive  of  military  subordination,  and 
highly  prejudicial  to  tlie  common  cause  ;  "  and  the  Assembly 


540  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

ij^Vas  requested  to  "instruct  General  Stark  to  conform  him- 
self to  the  same  rules  to  which  other  general  officers  were 
subject  whenever  they  were  called  out  at  the  expense  of 
the  United  States."  The  Assembly,  however,  and  Gen- 
eral Stark,  remained  Jirm  in  the  position  they  had  taken  ; 
and  the  sequel  proved  that  what  had  been  termed  military 
insubordination  was  productive  of  great  benefits  to  the 
country.  General  Stark  was  acting  under  no  selfish  mo- 
tives. He  had  been  long  experienced  in  the  sudden  and 
unlooked-for  movememts  of  frontier  war  ;  he  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  country ;  he  knew  better  than  Congress 
possibly  could  what  measures,  under  the  circumstances, 
were  most  conducive  to  the  public  welfare ;  and  all  his 
acts  were  regulated  in  strict  accordance  with  such  knowl- 
edge. 

The  battle  of  Bennington  was  fought  on  the  16th  of 
August,  1777.  During  the  day  previous,  the  fain  had 
fallen  in  torrents  ;  but  at  the  dawn  of  this  eventful  day, 
the  clouds  dispersed,  and  all  nature  lay  smiling  in  the 
warm  sunlight  of  a  fresh  summer  morning.  Early  in  the 
morning  both  armies  were  in  motion.  General  Stark  had 
arranged  a  plan  of  attack,  and,  after  carefully  reconnoi- 
tring the  enemy  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  proceeded  to  act 
upon  it.  A  body  of  two  hundred  men,  under  Colonel 
Nichols,  was  sent  forward  to  attack  the  enemy's  left  in  the 
rear,  while  another  detachment  of  three  hundred,  under 
Colonel  Hcrrick,  Mere  directed  to  fall  upon  the  rear  of  the 
right  wing,  and  to  effect  a  junction  with  Nichols  before 
making  a  general  attack.  Another  body  was  ordered  to 
march  toAvards  the  right  front  of  the  enemy,  in  order  to 
draw  the  attention  of  Colonel  Baum,  the  commander  of 
the  British  forces,  to  that  point.  The  action  commenced 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  by  Colonel  Nichols,  who 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  541 

marched  up  through  a  deep-wooded  ravine,  and  fell  vigor- 
ously upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  left,  which  consisted  of 
a  body  of  Hessians  strongly  intrenched.  At  the  moment 
of  the  first  firing  from  Nichols's  detachment,  the  other  por- 
tions of  the  American  army  advanced  to  the  attack,  and 
General  Stark,  who,  with  the  main  body,  was  awaiting  the 
movement  of  Nichols,  now  threw  himself  upon  his  horse, 
and  shouted  to  his  men  to  advance.  They  at  once  pressed 
forward  towards  the  hill,  where  a  body  of  tories  was  in- 
trenched, and  having  gained  its  summit,  the  whole  field 
of  action  was  within  their  view.  The  heights  were  wreathed 
in  the  smoke  of  the  cannon  and  musketry,  and  along  the 
slopes  and  upon  the  plain  the  enemy  was  forming  into 
battle  order.  *  It  was  at  this  moment  that  General  Stark 
uttered  that  laconic  speech,  so  familiar  to  all  our  readers. 
"  See  there,  men,"  said  he  ;  "  there  are  the  redcoats.  Be- 
fore night  they  are  ours,  or  Molly  Stark  miist  be  a  widow." 
These  words  brought  forth  a  mighty  shout  of  applause  from 
the  eager  troop,  which  greatly  disturbed  and  terrified  the 
loyalists  in  their  works  below.  The  Americans  displayed 
the  most  undaunted  courage.  With  their  rusty  firelocks, 
scarce  a  bayonet,  not  a  single  piece  of  cannon,  they  ven- 
tured to  attack  five  hundred  well-trained  regulars,  fur- 
nished with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  in  an  advantageous 
position,  completely  equipped,  and  aided  by  one  hundred 
Indians.  Scarce  had  the  Americans  gained  tlie  field  before 
a  reenforcement  of  the  British  arrived,  and  again  the  con- 
flict was  renewed.  But  success  followed  the  American 
arms.  Seven  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  captured,  among 
whom  was  Colonel  Baum,  their  leader.  Four  pieces  of 
brass  cannon,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dragoon  swords,  several 
hundred  stand  of  arms,  eight  bass  drums,  and  four  ammu- 
nition wagons  were  taken.  Two  hundred  and  seven  of  the 
46 


54^  KKW    IIAMrSHlRK    AS    IT    IS. 

British  were  slain.  Of  our  men,  one  hundred  were  killed, 
and  about  as  many  Avounded.  The  horse  of  General  Stark 
was  killed  under  him,  but  himself  was  not  injured.  The 
total  loss  of  the  enemy,  in  killed,  woiinded,  and  prisoners, 
was  nine  hundred  and  thirty -four,  including  one  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  tories. 

This  victory  was  hailed  with  joy  throughout  the  country. 
It  was  an  effectual  check  to  the  boasted  progress  of  Bur- 
goyne,  weakened  his  strong  arm,  and  revived  the  spirits  of 
the  Americans.  The  conduct  of  General  Stark  was  fully 
vindicated.  He  had  earned  the  reputation  of  a  wise,  able, 
and  successful  commander.  The  voice  of  the  country  was 
loud  in  his  favor,  and  even  forced  Congress  to  bestow  upon 
him  the  honors  which  had  heretofore  been,  at  least,  un- 
wisely withheld.  On  the  4th  of  October  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  him  and  his  brave  army  was  passed,  and  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  brigadier  general  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States.  He  also  served  in  Rhode  Island  in  1778  and 
1779,  and  in  New  Jersey  in  1780.  In  1781  he  had  the 
command  of  the  northern  division  of  the  American  army. 
In  1818  Congress  voted  him  a  pension  of  sixty  dollars  a 
month.  He  died  May  8, 1822,  aged  ninety-three.  He  was 
buried  in  Manchester,  and  a  costly  monument  now  marks 
the  place  of  his  rest.  He  was  a  true  patriot  and  a  worthy 
citizen.  When  his  country  was  out  of  danger,  he  sheathed 
his  sword,  and  quietly  retired  to  the  private  walks  of  life, 
refusing  all  public  offices  and  employments  ;  thus  teaching, 
by  his  example,  that  the  spirit  of  patriotism  and  military 
greatness  does  not  necessarily  seek  political  eminence  and 
renown. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  54i 


HORACE    GREELEY.* 


Horace  Greeley  was  born  in  Amherst,  New  Hampshire, 
on  the  3d  day  of  Februai-y,  1811,  and  therefore  is  now 
about  forty-four  years  of  age.  Like  many  Americans,  he 
is  of  mixed  descent.  His  father's  ancestors  were  English, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Woodburn, 
was  a  descendant  of  a  Scotch-Irish  family,  the  head  of 
which,  John  Woodburn,  settled  on  a  f^vrm  in  Londonderry, 
New  Hampshire,  about  A.  D.  1720.  The  Scotch-Irish 
wei*e  descended  from  Scotch  Presbyterians  who  had  settled 
in  Ireland,  and  were  of  that  party  which  opposed  James 
II.,  and  vigorously  defended  the  town  of  Derry  against  the 
Stuart  forces  during  the  civil  commotions  which  attended 
the  English  revolution  in  1788—9.  The  early  days  of 
Horace  Greeley,  like  those  of  the  great  body  of  American 
children,  were  passed  in  toil.  His  father  was  poor,  and 
could  not  afford  "  the  luxury  of  idle  children."  The  con- 
sequence was,  that  Horace  enjoyed  but  very  few  advantages 
for  education.  After  he  had  attained  his  seventh  year,  he 
was  a  constant  laborer  upon  the  not  very  productive  farm 
of  his  father,  attending  the  common  school  two  or  three 
months  of  the  year  during  the  winter  season.  "  As  a  stu- 
dent, he  never  saw  the  inside  of  any  academy,  seminary, 
or  select  school."  But  in  spite  of  these  disadvantages, 
young  Greeley,  when  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  a  Ver- 
mont printing  office,  was  probably  far  better  fitted  for  the 
calling  than  most  boys  who  have  enjoyed  the  privileges 
of  a  regular  education.  By  his  own  exertions  he  had  sur- 
mounted difficulties  which  to  many  would  have  seemed 
insuperable.     At  the  age  of  eleven  he  made  application  to 


544  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

"be  admitted,  as  an  apprentice,  in  a  j^rinting  office  in  White- 
hall, New  York,  but  was  refused  on  account  of  his  youth, 
and  lack  of  strength  adequate  to  the  position.  Four  years 
later  he  became  an  apprentice  in  the  same  business  in 
Poultney,  Vermont,  where  he  remained  until  June,  1830, 
when  the  paper  was  discontinued.  In  August,  1831,  then 
a  i'ew  months  short  of  his  majority,  young  Greeley  arrived 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  where,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
vears,  he  was  destined  to  play  so  important  a  part  in  the 
great  drama  of  life,  the  closing  scene  of  which  is  by  no 
means  yet  enacted.  Few  who  saw  the  raw  and  indigent 
youth,  poor  and  coarsely  clad,  with  but  a  few  pence  in  his 
pocket,  as  he  landed  from  a  towboat  at  the  foot  of  Broad 
Street,  would  have  imagined  that  they  were  looking  at 
one  who  was  to  control  great  parties  and  masses  of  men, 
over  whose  writings  myriads  of  people  were  daily  to  pore, 
and  whose  opinions  and  suggestions  were  to  be  matters  of 
the  greatest  consideration  to  presidents,  cabinets,  senators, 
authors,  and  all  who  aim  at  playing  leading  parts  in  the 
game  of  life.  It  is  not  often  that  fame  and  wealth  have 
stajted  from  smaller  or  more  humble  beginnings. 

For  about  eighteen  months  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
printer  in  the  city  of  New  York.  His  labors  were  un- 
steady, for  it  was  not  his  good  fortune  to  find  constant  em- 
ployment. In  the  spring  of  1833  he  went  into  the  printing 
business  with  another  young  printer  named  Storey.  In  a 
short  time  after  Storey  Avas  drowned,  and  his  place  was 
supplied  by  a  Mr.  Winchester.  The  business,  under  this 
firm,  was  very  successful.  In  1834  Mr.  Greeley  added  to 
the  establishment  a  newspaper  called  the  New  Yorker. 
Though  it  commenced  with  only  ten  subscribers,  it  in 
time  reached  to  a  circulation  of  nine  thousand.  Mr.  Gree- 
ley's political  life  may  be  said  to  have  commenced  in  1834, 


^  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  545 

when  the  country  was  convulsed  by  the  difficulties  and 
embarrassments  which  grew  out  of  the  removal  of  the  de- 
posits from  the  United  States  Bank.  In  the  discussions 
of  these  all-absorbing  topics,  Mr.  Greeley  bore  a  prominent 
part  ;  and  although  himself  a  radical  of  the  most  decided 
stamp,  yet  his  views  were  conservative  on  this  as  well  as 
—  until  recently,  at  least  —  upon  all  political  questions. 
When  the  great  contest  of  1840  was  opened,  Mr.  Greeley 
was  found  among  the  foremost  in  the  formidable  phalanx 
of  whig  laborers. 

To  a  weekly  paper,  the  publication  of  which  he  com- 
menced in  New  York,  he  gave  the  name  of  the  Log  Cabin. 
Considering  all  the  elements  which  entered  into  the  spirit 
of  this  contest  on  either  side,  no  better  name  for  a  "cam- 
paign paper "  could  have  been  devised.  It  had  an  im- 
mense circulation,  and  its  influence  was  almost  unbounded. 
In  the  spring  of  1841,  just  as  the  whig  party  had  estab- 
lished their  leader  in  the  chair  of  state,  Mr.  Greeley 
resolved  to  commence  the  publication  of  a  cheap  daily 
journal  in  New  York  city.  The  first  number  of  this  paper, 
styled  the  New  York  Tribune,  was  issued  on  the  10th  of 
April,  1841  —  by  a  singular  coincidence,  the  very  day  which 
was  observed  as  one  of  public  mourning  in  New  York  on 
account  of  the  death  of  President  Harrison.  From  that 
time  to  this  the  circulation  of  this  paper  has  been  immense, 
so  that  it  now  justly  stands  as  one  of  the  leading  journals 
cf  the  world.  In  1848  Mr.  Greeley  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  Henry  Clay  for  the  presidential  nomination,  and 
came  into  the  support  of  General  Tayloi",  who  received 
that  nomination,  with  a  good  deal  of  reluctance.  In  the 
autumn  of  that  year  he  was  chosen  a  representative  to  Con- 
gress, to  fill  a  vacancy  which  had  occurred  in  the  district 
of  which  he  was  a  resident.  His  efforts  at  reform,  especially 
46* 


546  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

on  the  mileage  question,  were  too  direct  and  earnest  to  se- 
cure to  him  great  popularity,  insomuch  as  legislators  are 
generally  conservative  upon  all  questions  of  retrenchment. 
In  social  matters  Mr.  Greeley  is  thoroughly  radical,  and 
subscribes  to  some  of  the  views  of  the  celebrated  Charles 
Fourier,  respecting  the  division  of  labor,  &c.  The  great 
moral  reforms  of  the  day  have  found  in  him  a  sincere  and 
zealous  advocate ;  and  it  would  Hot,  indeed,  be  surprising 
if,  at  times,  his  zeal  should  overpower  his  discretion  —  a 
failing  common  to  men  who  to  honesty  of  purpose  unite 
warmth  of  head  and  heart.  The  amount  of  labor  which 
he  performs  from  week  to  week  is  almost  incalculable,  as 
will  readily  appear  to  any  who  knows  any  thing  of  the  New 
York  Tribune  —  to  say  nothing  of  the  large  portion  of  his 
time  taken  up  in  lecturing  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
in  attending  great  political  meetings,  &c.  To  pass  a  final 
judgment  upon  his  peculiar  views  or  writings  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  when  great  and  unforeseen  changes  are  the  fixed 
law  of  social  existence,  would  be  as  unfair  as  to  submit  a 
case  to  the  jury  without  giving  the  defendant  an  oppor- 
tunity to  state  the  grounds  of  his  defence.  To  judge  of 
this  man  correctly,  his  mission  must  have  been  fully  closed, 
his  pen  must  have  written  its  last  word,  and  the  immortal 
must  have  separated  from  its  mortal  habitation. 

JOHN  P.  HALE* 

John  P.  Hale  was  born  in  Rochester,  New  Hampshire, 
on  the  31st  day  of  March,  1806.  His  father  bore  the 
same  Christian  name,  but  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  Rock- 
ingham county,  just  previous  to  the  declaration  of  inde- 

*  Sec  plate. 


* 
4 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  547 

pendence.  He  held  a  lieutenant's  commission  in  the  army, 
at  the  hands  of  General  Washington,  'I'he  middle  name, 
Parker,  came  from  his  father's  maternal  progenitors.  His 
mother  was  Lydia  Clarkson  O'Brien,  only  child  of  William 
O'Brien,  an  immigrant  Irishman,  who  died  a  prisoner  of 
war  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-three.  He  was  of  the 
heroic  stock  from  which  sprang  William  Smith  O'Brien. 
William  O'Brien  and  his  brother  will  bo  found  honorably 
mentioned  in  Cooper's  Naval  History,  as  performing  a 
daring  feat  of  volunteer  heroism  in  the  capture  of  a  Eiitish 
vessel,  which  had  seized  a  lot  of  lumber  at  Machias,  Maine, 
and  Avhich  it  was  carrying  off  without  leave  or  license.  In 
1834  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Lucy  H.  Lambert,  by  Avhom  he  has  two  living  chil- 
dren, both  daughters. 

John  P.  Hale,  the  father,  was  a  lawyer.  He  died  at 
Rochester,  in  the  height  of  his  professional  usefulness,  at 
the  early  age  of  forty- four.  Fortunately,  the  mother  of  our 
subject  survived  her  husband,  and  was  permitted  to  watch 
over  and  direct  the  development  of  her  son,  until  she  had 
the  pleasure  of  not  only  seeing  him  enter  successfully  upon 
a  career  of  professional  usefulness,  but  also  into  political 
life,  under  circumstances  well  calculated  to  gratify  maternal 
ambition,  as  the  subsequent  facts  of  our  sketch  will  indi- 
cate.    She  died  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years. 

Mr.  Hale's  primary  education  was  partly  obtained  at  the 
common  schools  of  New  England  —  those  nurseries  of  a 
natural  democracy,  in  which  the  children  of  the  rich,  from 
reading  the  same  lesson  from  the  same  book,  seated  side 
by  side  in  the  same  unostentatious  school  room,  come  to 
regard  the  children  of  the  poor  as  the  equals  they  really 
are  in  a  common  fatherhood,  and  to  retain  that  regard  in 
after  years. 


548  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   IS. 

Subsequently,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr. 
Hale  entered  Exeter  Academy,  then  under  the  charge  of 
Dr.  Abbott,  "who  died  in  1838,  after  occupying  that  position 
of  usefulness  for  fifty  years. 

Thus  prepared,  he  entered  the  venerable  college  of  Bow- 
doin,  where  he  graduated  in  1827.  Among  his  college 
mates  were  Franklin  Pierce,  now  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  the  biographer  of  the 
nation's  chief,  and  consul  at  Liverpool.  He  studied  law 
at  Rochester  and  Dover,  in  his  native  state,  finishing  his 
studies  at  the  latter  place,  in  the  office  of  Daniel  M.  Chris- 
tie, who  stands  among  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state. 
Young  Hale  soon  found  himself  in  a  large  and  agreeable 
practice,  the  more  welcome  because  affording  him  frequent 
opportunities  for  the  display  of  a  degree  of  power  before 
juries  in  criminal  trials,  which  showed  itself,  in  the  prog- 
ress of  the  celebrated  government  cases  in  Boston,  known 
as  the  "  Shadrach  trials,"  to  be  of  rare  attainment.  But 
he  was  not  less  successful  iu  the  department  of  civil  law, 
especially  when  before  the  jury,  where  his  remarkable 
keenness  in  discerning  the  points  at  issue,  and  his  adroit- 
ness and  promptitude  in  meeting  them,  were  early  dis- 
played to  great  advantage.  Among  those  with  whom  he 
occasionally  met,  either  as  associates  or  opponents,  was  Mr 
Pierce,  who  also  has  enjoyed  a  fine  reputation  in  New 
Hampshire  as  a  jury  advocate. 

Mr.  Hale  entered  political  life  in  1832,  as  a  member  of 
the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Representatives.  He  was 
called  into  it  by  an  independent  workingman's  movement 
—  an  incident  which  may  be  regarded  as  a  presage  of  his 
future  services  in  the  same  direction  ;  for  his  congressional 
speeches  and  votes  will  clearly  indicate  that  his  fellow- 
citizens  did  not  mistake  their  man  in  choosing  him  as  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  549 

champion  of  their  neglected  interests.  The  same  year  he 
*  was  selected  as  a  member  of  the  nominating  state  con- 
vention of  the  democratic  party,  and  thenceforward  he  be- 
came distinctively  identified  with  tlieir  organization.  In 
1834,  though  only  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  he  had  al- 
ready attracted  the  attention  of  the  then  president,  General 
Jackson,  in  a  way  Avhich  induced  his  appointment  tp  the 
responsible  position  of  United  States  district  attorney  for 
New  Hampshire. 

In  1843  he  was  elected  to  Congress  on  a  general  ticket, 
with  Messrs.  Burke,  Norris,  and  Reding.  It  was  during 
this  Congress  that  the  Texas  struggle  began.  Mr.  Hale 
took  a  fearless  stand  against  annexation,  and  immediately 
addressed  a  letter  to  his  constituents,  fully  and  candidly 
explaining  his  motives,  and  denouncing  the  project  as,  in 
his  opinion,  a  scheme  for  strengthening  slavery  by  extend- 
ing it  into  territory  from  which  it  had  been  excluded  by 
the  laws  of  Mexico.  This  bold  step  was  censured  by 
the  state  convention  assembled  in  February,  1845,  where 
his  nomination  for  reelection,  previously  made  with  una- 
nimity, was  reconsidered.  In  1846  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  legislature  from  Dover,  and  at  once  made 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  During  this  ses- 
sion he  was  chosen  United  States  senator  for  the  term  of 
six  years  dating  from  March  4,  1847.  On  returning  to 
the  Senate  chamber,  he  found  himself  associated  with  four 
members  of  that  body  who  had  been  pupils  at  Exeter  Acad- 
emy, viz.,  Daniel  Webster,  Lewis  Cass,  Alpheus  Felch, 
and  John  A.  Dix,  all  of  whom  had  been  trained  under  the 
venerable  Dr.  Abbott,  who  often  observed,  with  apparent 
self-gratulation,  that  he  had  "  five  boys  in  the  Senate,  and 
pretty  good  boys,  too."  Mr.  Hale's  career  in  that  august 
body  is  too  well  known  to  his  countrymen  to  need  descrip- 


550  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

tion  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  he  on.  all  occasions  showed 
himself  a  fearless  champion  of  liberty,  according  to  his 
views,  and  an  uncompromising  foe  to  the  encroachments  of 
slavery,  manifesting  the  utmost  patience  and  good  humor 
under  all  the  severe,  and  sometimes  violent  attacks  made 
upon  his  pecuUar  principles  by  political  opponents.  In  his 
replies  to  his  "  pitted  antagonist,"  Mr.  Foote,  occur  many 
passages  which,  for  eloquence,  wit,  and  good  nature,  yet 
withering  sarcasm,  are  seldom  surpassed.  As  a  public 
speaker  he  is  prompt,  energetic,  and  direct.  He  is  never 
profound,  but  eminently  practical,  forcible,  and  methodical 
in  his  own  way,  which  is  founded  neither  upon  established 
rules  nor  precedents  ;  the  attempt  to  follow  which  would 
involve  any  one  but  himself  in  inextricable  difficulties. 

His  oratorical  powers  are  unquestionably  great.  He 
gains  that  cont)ol  over  his  audience  which  changes  aversion 
into  breathless  attention,  and  the  antipathy  which,  at  the 
outset,  would  denounce  him  as  a  fanatic,  into  generous  sym- 
pathy. He  Avorries  his  opponent  into  petulance  and  con- 
fusion, and  at  the  same  time  shoAvs  toAvards  him  the  utmost 
kindness  and  good  Avill. 

The  firmness,  constancy,  and  ability  Avith  which  he  de- 
fended his  position  against  his  southern  opponents,  gained 
for  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  "  free  soil  "  par- 
ty ;  and  at  a  convention  held  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  11th  day  of  August,  1852,  he  Avas  unanimously  nomi- 
nated for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States,  notAvith- 
standing  his  positive  refusal  to  stand  as  candidate  for  that 
high  office.  At  the  close  of  his  senatorial  term,  in  March, 
1853,  he  removed  to  Ncav  York  city,  Avhere  he  still  resides, 
and  is  now  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, in  company  with  a  distinguished  gentleman  of  the 
New  York   bar. 


SOCIETIES   AND    ASSOCIATIONS.  551 


SOCIETIES  AND   ASSOCIATIONS. 

Our  limits  will  allow  us  to  make  mention  of  but  few 
of  the  various  literary  and  benevolent  societies  which  are 
found  in  our  state.  The  following  are  the  most  important 
of  those  of  which  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  reliable  in- 
formation :  — 

New  Hampshire  Medical  Society. — This  society  was 
incorporated  February  11,  1791.  It  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  diffusing  a  knowledge  of  medical  science  in 
this  state,  and  for  discouraging  empiricism  and  quackery. 
It  has  a  library  of  considerable  value,  which  is  divided 
among  the  district  societies.  This  society  has  a  close  con- 
nection with  the  Medical  School^t  Dartmouth  College.  Its 
influence  upon  the  profession  has  been  most  salutary. 

New  Hampshire  Historical  Society.  —  This  society  was 
incorporated  June  13,  1823.  The  library  and  cabinet  are 
located  in  the  hall  over  the  Merrimack  County  Bank,  at 
Concord.  The  society  has  published  six  volumes  of  col- 
lections, containing  a  large  amount  of  interesting  and  val- 
uable matter. 

New  Hampshire  Bible  Society.  —  The  object  of  this  so- 
ciety, as  set  forth  in  its  constitution,  is  "  to  promote  the 
more  extensive  distribution  of  the  Holy  Bible,  by  procur- 
ing and  distributing  gratuitously  among  the  needy  and  des- 
titute, or  selling  at  reduced  prices,  according  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  board  of  directors,  Bibles  and  Testaments  in 
the  English  language."  It  was  established  in  1811.  The 
total  amount  of  receipts  from  that  time  to  the  present  is 
$110,986.22.  The  receipts  for  the  year  ending  August  23, 
1854,  were  $6947.49. 

New  Hampshire  Missionary  Society. — This  society  wm 


662  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

instituted  in  September,  1801.  It  was  designed  "to  fur- 
nish preaching  and  religious  instruction  to  destitute 
churches  in  New  Hampshire."  The  total  amount  raised 
in  the  state  from  1802  to  1851,  inclusive,  was  |170,403.18. 
Of  this  sum  upwards  of  .^141,000  were  expended  in  New 
Hampshire  and  vicinity,  and  the  remainder  in  the  great 
west. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  —  The  first  lodge  of 
the  order  in  this  state  was  instituted  at  Nashua,  September 
11, 1843,  under  the  name  and  title  of  Granite  Lodge  No.  1. 
The  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Hampshire  now  embraces  under 
its  jurisdiction  forty  subordinate  lodges.  There  are  also  six 
Encampments  and  a  Grand  Encampment.  The  following 
abstract  of  the  returns  made  by  the  subordinate  lodges  for 
the  year  ending  June  30,  i854,  will  exhibit  the  condition 
of  the  order  at  that  time  :  — 

Number  of  contributing  members,  2240.  Amount  paid 
for  relief  of  brothers,  $2674.42  ;  do.  widowed  families, 
$75.04  ;  do.  burying  the  dead,  $667.51.  Total  amount 
paid  for  relief,  $3416.97. 

Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  —  This  order  reports  in 
New  Hampshire  one  grand  chapter,  one  grand  lodge,  four 
royal  arch  chapters,  and  twenty-four  subordinate  lodges, 
with  931  members.  Number  initiated  during  the  year 
ending  June,  1854,  191. 

RAILROADS. 

The  Ashuelot  Railroad  extends  from  Hinsdale  to  Keene, 
23j  miles.  It  is  at  present  leased  to  the  Connecticut  River 
Railroad  Company,  which  keep  it  in  repair,  and  pay  a  year- 
ly rent  of  $35,000.  Whole  cost  of  the  road,  exclusive 
of  its  equipments,  $499,681.17. 


RAILROADS.     -  553 

The  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  lliiilroad  extends  from 
Portland,  Maine,  to  Island  Pond,  Vermont,  entering  this 
state  just  north  of  the  White  Mountains,  and  following  the 
courses  of  the  Upper  Ammonoosuc  River  until  it  reaches 
the  Connecticut.  The  length  of  that  part  of  the  road 
which  is  in  this  state,  is  54^  miles. 

The  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad,  incorpo- 
rated in  1844,  extends  from  Concord  to  Wells  River,  Ver- 
mont, 92|  miles.  The  first  section  was  opened  in  1848. 
Whole  cost  of  road  and  equipments,  $'2,313,286.78. 

The  Boston  and  Elaine  Railroad,  incorporated  in  1835, 
extends  from  Boston,  through  Exeter,  Dover,  and  other 
places,  and  unites  with  the  Portsmouth,  Saco,  and  Portland 
Railroad.  Whole  length,  14^  miles,  of  which  37f  miles 
are  in  this  state.  Whole  cost  of- construction  and  equip- 
ments, .$4,180,960.91,  of  w^hich  the  sum  of  $825,660.68 
was  expended  in  this  state. 

The  Cheshire  Raihoad,  incorporated  in  1844,  extends 
from  Fitchburg,  Massachusetts,  to  Bellows  Falls,  Vermont, 
53i  miles,  43  miles  of  its  entire  length  being  in  this  state. 
Whole  cost  of  road  and  equipments,  .$3,119,510.03. 

The  Cocheco  Railroad  extends  from  Dover  to  Alton  Bay, 
at  the  southern  extremity  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  28 
miles.  Incorporated  in  1847.  Total  cost  of  road  and 
fixtures,  .$767,360.93. 

The  Concord  Riiilroad,  incorporated  in  1835,  extends 
from  Nashua,  up  the  Merrimack,  to  Concord,  34j  miles. 
Opened  for  travel  September  1,  1842.  Cost  of  the  road, 
including  equipments,  $1,412,576.91. 

The  Contoocook  Valley  Railroad,  incorporated  in  1849, 
extends  from  Contoocookville,  in  Ilopkinton,  to  Hillsbor- 
ough Bridge,  14^  miles.     Total  expenditures,  $259,609.62. 

The  Eastern  Railroad,  incorporated  in  1836,  extends 
47 


554  KEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

from  Boston  to  Portsmouth,  54  miles  ;   16|  miles  in  New 
Hampshire. 

The  Great  Falls  and  Conway  Railroad,  incorporated  in 
1844,  extends  from  Great  Falls  to  Milton,  12^  miles. 
When  fully  completed,  it  will  extend  to  Wakefield  line,  8 
miles  farther.  Total  expenditures  up  to  April,  1854, 
$308,222.23. 

The  Manchester  and  Lawrence  Railroad  extends  from 
Manchester  to  Lawrence,  Massachusetts,  27  miles.  In- 
corporated in  1847. 

The  ^lerrimack  and  Connecticut  River  Railroad,  incor- 
porated January,  1853,  includes  the  New  Hampshire  Cen- 
tral and  the  Concord  and  Claremont  Railroads.  Distance 
from  Manchester  to  Hillsborough  Bridge,  33  miles  ;  from 
Bradford  to  Concord,  25. 

The  Nashua  and  Lowell  Railroad  extends  from  Nashua 
to  Lowell,  Massachusetts  about  15  miles.  Incorporated  in 
1835.  Cost  of  the  road  and  furniture,  $651,214.88.  The 
corporation  have  leased  the  Wilton  Railroad  for  five  years 
fnvn   April  1,  1853. 

The  Northern  Railroad  extends  from  Concord  to  West 
Lebanon,  69  miles.  The  lower  section  was  opened  for 
travel  in  1846.  Incorporated  in  1844.  The  Franklin  and 
Bristol  Railroad,  running  from  Franklin  to  Bristol,  12^ 
miles,  is  now  united  with  this.  The  latter  was  incorporated 
in  1846. 

The  Peterborough  and  Shirley  Railroad,  from  Groton, 
Massachusetts,  to  Mason  Village,  in  Mason,  23  miles. 

The  Portsmouth  and  Concord  Railroad  extends  from 
Portsmouth  to  Concord,  47  miles.  Incorporated  in  1845. 
Cost  of  road  and  equipments,  ^1,075,575.56. 

The  Sullivan  Railroad  extends  from  Bellows  Falls  to 
Windsor,  Vermont,  26  miles.     Incorporated  in  1846. 


KAILKOADS.  555 

The  White  Mountains  luiih-oad  extends  from  Wells 
River  to  Littleton,  about  20  miles. 

The  Wilton  Railroad  extends  from  Nashua  to  Wilton, 
Ibj  miles.  It  is  leased  to  the  Nashua  and  Lowell  Railroad 
Company. 

The  Worcester  and  Nashua  Railroad,  from  Worcester, 
Massachusetts,  to  Nashua,  45  miles,  of  which  distance  only 
6^  miles  are  in  this  state.  Total  cost,  $1,352,045.79.. 
Expended  in  New  Hampshire,  $116,058.51. 


S  V 


556 


■NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


A     STATEMENT 

Of  the  condition  of  the  several  Banks  in  New  Hampshire,  as  they  existed  on 
the  first  Monday  of  December,  A.  D.  1854,  as  furnished  by  the  Secretary 
of  State. 


NAMES    OF    BANKS. 


Araoskeag, 

Ashuelot, 

Belknap  County, 

Cheshire, 

City, 

Claremont, 

Citizens, 

Connecticut  River, 

Cocheco 

Carroll  County, 

Dover, 

Francestown, 

Granite  State, 

Great  Falls, 

Indian  Head, 

Lake, 

Lancaster, 

Lebanon, 

Mechanics 

Merrimack  County,. . . . 

Manchester, 

Mechanics  &  Traders,., 

Monadnock, 

Nashua, 

New  Ipswch 

Piscataqua  Exchange,. 

Pittsfield, 

Rochester, 

Rockingham, 

Salmon  Falls, 

State  Capital, 

Strafford 

Sugar  River, 

Warner, 

Winchester 

White  Mountain, 


Total,. 


Manchester,..., 

Keene, 

Meredith  Brida 

Keene, 

Manchester,..., 
Claremont,  .. . 
Sanbornton,  . . 
Charles  town,.. 

Dover , 

Sandwich, 

Dover, 

Francestown,., 

Exeter 

Somers  worth,. 

Nashua, 

Wolfborough,. 
Lancaster,. ... 

Lebanon, 

Concord, 

Concord, 

Manchester,.., 
Portsmouth,.. 

.Taffrey, 

Nashua, 

New  Ipswich,. 
Portsmouth,. . 

Pittsfield, 

Rochester,. .. . 
Portsmo\ith,. . 
Rollinsford,... 

Concord, 

Dover, 

Ne\vport, 

Warner, 

Winchester,... 
Lancaster 


■2s 


200,000 
100,000 

80,000 
100,000 
150,000 
100,000 

50,000 

90,000 
100,000 

50,000 
100,000 

60,000 
125,000 
150,000 
150,000 

50,000 

50,000 
100,000 
100,000 

80,000 
12.5,000 
141,000 

50,000 
125,000 
100,000 
200,000 

50,000 

80,000 
200,000 

50,000 
150,000 
120,000 

50,000 

50,000 
100.000 

50,000 

3,626,000 


5,819.61 
5,739.58 
3,969.15 
4,455.54 
2,107.42 
4,075.03 
2,822.85 
3,615.86 
4,148.57 
2,654.16 
2,791.72 
2,334.21 
5,464.49 
3,666.10 
6,486.56 
3,683.60 
114.48 
9,588.93 
6,173.83 

13.260.00 
5,137.36 
5,276.87 
3,606.00 

10,100.47 
4,444.31 
9,401.69 
2,703.77 
6.340.66 

12,231.66 
2,328.67 
4,693.34 
3,137.68 
2,633.16 
2,974.00 
5,108.07 
3,345.33 

176,4.34.73 


3  B  ? 


a  fi 


169,822 
76,536 
79,168 
76,345 

115,162 
88,000 
47,128 
60,379 
94,779 
46,909 
93,469 
58,356 

115,226 

130,331 

140,000 
38,936 
3,304 
90,767 
74,611 
79,693 

114,298 

139,542 
49,32-5 

107,235 
80,121 

151,669 
47,057 
80,000 

145,648 
45,480 

113,019 
99,882 
49,717 
49,668 
78,520 
49,446 

3,079,548 


NEWSPAPERS.  557 


NEWSPAPERS. 


"  The  NcAV  Hampshire  Gazette,"  Portsmouth.  The 
first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  in  October,  1756,  by 
Daniel  Fowle,  who  owned  and  published  it  until  1784. 
It  was  the  pioneer  newspaper  in  New  Hampshire,  and  is 
the  oldest  existing  one  in  the  United  States,  having  contin- 
ued the  even  tenor  of  its  way,  without  interruption,  for  the 
space  of  one  hundred  years.  Fowle  was  succeeded  by 
John  Melcher,  who  conducted  it  until  1802,  when  he  sold 
out  his  interest  to  N.  S.  and  Washington  Pierce.  The 
subsequent  proprietors  were  Messrs.  Hill  and  Gardner, 
Hill,  Hill  and  Pierce,  William  Weeks,  Beck  and  Foster, 
Beck  and  Greenleaf,  Laighton  and  Greenleaf,  Virgin  and 
Moses,  S.  W.  Moses,  William  P.  Hill,  and  Gideon  H.  Rund- 
lett.  The  present  editor  and  proprietor,  Mr.  Edward  N. 
Fuller,  commenced  its  publication  in  1852.  It  is  demo- 
cratic in  politics. 

"  The  Portsmouth  Journal  of  Literature  and  Politics." 
The  publication  of  this  venerable  journal  was  commenced 
June  4,  1793,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Portsmouth  Ora- 
cle," and  was  issued  semiweekly,  by  Charles  Peirce  editor 
and  proprietor,  until  January,  1796.  It  was  then  enlarged 
and  published  weekly.  Its  subsequent  proprietors  were 
W.  Mason  and  Daniel  Treadwell,  who  sold  their  interest 
in  the  establishment,  September  25,  1813,  to  Charles  Tu- 
rell,  when  it  received  its  present  title.  In  July,  1821,  it 
was  transferred  to  N.  A.  Haven,  Jr.,  who  conducted  it  un- 
til July  1,  1825,  when  it  was  purchased  by  T.  H.  Miller 
and  C.  W.  Brewster.  In  July,  1832,  Mr.  Brewster  be- 
came sole  proprietor,  by  whom  it  has  been  owned  end  pub- 
lished from  that  time  to  the  present. 

"  The   New   Hampshire    Sentinel  "  was  established  in 


558  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

March,  1799,  in  Keene,  by  John  Prentiss,  and  was  managed 
by  him  as  editor  and  proprietor  until  the  close  of  the  year 
1847,  a  period  of  48  years.  In  January,  1848,  John  W. 
Prentiss  became  proprietor,  and  conducted  the  paper  until 
June,  1853,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Albert  God- 
frey, who  is  the  present  editor  and  proprietor.  The  Sen- 
tinel was  "  federal  "  in  politics,  and  advocated  the  doc- 
trines of  Washington,  the  elder  Adams,  and  John  Taylor 
Gilman,  and  maintained  its  character  as  a  federal  paper 
until  the  period  of  Monroe's  administration,  Avhen  party 
names  fell  into  disuse.  It  supported  John  Quincy  Adams, 
and  has  been  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  whig  party 
since  its  formation  to  the  present  time. 

"The  Parmer's  Cabinet"  was  established  at  Amherst, 
November  11,  1802,  by  Joseph  Gushing,  Esq.,  and  was 
managed  by  him  until  October  10,  1809,  when  he  removed 
to  Baltimore,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  establishment  by 
the  present  senior  editor,  Richard  Boylston,  Esq.,  who  has 
been  connected  with  it  for  45  years.  During  most  of  this 
long  period  the  paper  was  under  his  entire  charge  ;  he  was 
unaided  by  a  single  '•'  dollar's  worth  "  of  hired  or  gratuitous 
editorial.  He  labored  constantly  with  his  own  hands  in 
preparing  the  paper  for  the  press,  in  directing  the  printed 
sheets  for  delivery,  besides  attending  to  the  transient  job 
work  of  the  office,  keeping  the  accounts,  and  attending  a 
bookstore  —  an  example  of  industry  worthy  to  be  followed 
by  some  of  his  younger  brethren  of  the  quill.  In  January, 
1849,  the  proprietorship  was  assumed  by  Edward  D.  Boyl- 
ston, his  son,  who  has  since  been  its  principal  manager, 
although  the  name  of  the  father  has  been  associated  as  co- 
editor.  In  politics  the  tone  of  the  paper  is  mild  ;  it  is 
chiefly  devoted  to  moi;al  and  religious  subjects. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  Patriot  and  State  Gazette."  This 
47* 


NEWSPAVEr..s.  559 

journal  was  established  in  Concord,  in  i809,  by  Isaac  Hill, 
and  was  managed  by  him  several  years.  It  is  now  published 
weekly  by  William  Butterfield,  This  for  many  years  had 
an  extensive  circulation  in  New  Hampshire,  and  is  one  of 
the  leading  democratic  papers  in  the  st.ate. 

**  The  Congregational  Journal,"  a  religious  paper,  pub- 
lished in  Concord,  was  established  in  1819,  and  was  at  first 
called  "  The  New  Hampshire  Depository,"  afterwards  "  The 
New  Hampshire  Observer,"  and  "  The  Fanoplist."  The 
present  editor  is  Rev.  Benjamin  P.  Stone,  D.  D. 

"  The  Dover  Enquirer,"  a  whig  journal,  established  in 
Dover,  was  first  published  in  February,  1828.  Editor  and 
proprietor,  George  Wadleigh. 

"  The  Dover  Gazette  and  Strafford  Advertiser,"  a  demo- 
cratic paper,  published  in  Dover.  The  first  number  was 
issued  December  14,  1825.  Editor  and  proprietor,  John 
T.  Gibbs. 

"  The  Exeter  News  Letter,"  a  weekly  paper,  published 
in  Exeter,  was  established  in  1831.  Editor,  Franklin 
Lane,  M.  D. 

"The  Democrat"  was  first  published  in  April,  1843. 
It  is  established  in  Manchester,  and  is  an  advocate  of  '^  free 
soil  "  principles.      John  H.  Goodale  editor. 

"  The  Cheshire  Republican,"  a  democratic  paper,  pub- 
lished in  Keene.  It  was  ^rst  established  in  "Walpole, 
about  30  years  ago.     Horatio  Kimball  editor. 

"  The  IManchester  Daily  Mirror,"  established  at  Man- 
chester, October  28,  1850.  John  B.  Clarke  editor  and 
proprietor.  "  The  Dollar  Weekly  Mirror  "  is  published  at 
the  same  oftice,  under  the  same  editorial  charge.  The  first 
number  was  issued  February  1,  1851.  Both  papers  are 
independent  in  politics. 

"  The  Daily  Chronicle  "  was  established  in  Portsmouth, 


560  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

August  2,  1852.  "  The  Weekly  Chronicle  "  was  first  is- 
sued January  1,  1853.  Both  papers  are  mdependent  in 
politics  and  religion.      Published  by  Millers  and  Gray. 

"  Nashua  Gazette  and  Hillsborough  County  Advertiser," 
founded  upon  the  "  Nashua  Constellation,"  a  whig  paper, 
started  in  1827,  by  Brown  and  Wiggin,  and  afterwards 
published  by  Thayer  and  Wiggin,  and  by  Andrew  E. 
Thayer.  It  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  Israel  Hunt,  Jr., 
who  changed  its  politics,  and  assumed  for  it  its  present  name. 
It  has  since  been  published  by  Merrill  and  Dinsmore,  C. 
P.  Danforth,  W.  H.  Hughes,  W.  Butterfield,  and  B.  B. 
and  F.  P.  Whittemore.  It  is  now  under  the  successful 
management  of  the  Messrs.  Whittemore. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  Telegraph "  was  founded  in 
1832,  by  Alfred  Beard,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  brother, 
Albin  Beard,  the  present  publisher.  This  paper  is  whig 
in  politics,  enjoys  a  well-earned  reputation  and  extensive 
patronage. 

"  The  Oasis  "  was  established  in  January,  1843,  by  O. 
D.  Murray,  and  A.  I.  Sawtelle.  During  the  same  year 
Mr.  Sawtelle  sold  his  interest  to  Horatio  Kimball.  In 
1849  Mr.  Murray  was  succeeded  by  J.  E.  Dodge ;  and  in 
1851  Mr.  Kimball  retired,  giving  place  to  S.  H.  Noyes. 
Since  January,  1851,  it  has  been  conducted  by  Dodge  and 
Noyes.  It  early  attained  the  largest  local  circulation  as 
an  independent  family  journal,  and  commands  a  respectable 
and  increasing  patronage. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  Statesman,"  Concord.  This  is  a 
weekly  journal,  and  was  established  in  January,  1823, 
by  Luther  Roby,  who  conducted  it  for  several  years.  It  is 
now  published  by  Messrs  McFarland  and  Jenks.  It  is  the 
leading  whig  paper  in  the  state,  and  aside  from  its  politics, 
contains  a  large  variety  of  agricultural,  moral,  and  religious 
matter. 


NEWSPAPERS.  561 

"The  National  Eagle."  This  paper  was  established  in 
Claremont,  in  October,  1834,  under  the  direction  of  a 
committee  chosen  at  a  whig  convention  for  Sullivan  coun- 
ty, the  year  previous.  The  first  number  was  issued  by 
John  H.  Warland  editor,  and  Samuel  L.  Chase  printer. 
In  1830  the  establishment  was  purcliascd  and  managed  by 
Messrs.  Warland  and  Joseph  Weber.  In  1843  Mr.  Weber 
became  sole  proprietor,  and  conducted  the  paper  until  Oc- 
tober, 1846,  Avhen  Messrs.  Charles  Young  and  John  S. 
Walker  purchased  the  entire  establishment,  Mr.  Walker 
taking  charge  of  the  editorial  department.  In  1849  Mr. 
Walker  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Brewster,  who  man- 
iged  the  paper  in  connection  with  Mr.  Young,  until  April, 
1854,  when  the  establishment  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Otis  F.  R.  Waite,  its  present  proprietor.  It  is  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  the  whig  party. 

'*  The  Farmer's  jNIonthly  Visitor  "  was  first  published  in 
Concord,  January  15,  1839,  under  the  charge  and  propri- 
etorship of  the  late  Governor  Hill.  After  his  decease  the 
establishment  was  sold  and  located  in  Manchester,  under 
the  editorial  charge  of  C.  E.  Potter,  who  continued  its 
publication  during  the  years  1852  and  1853.  On  the  1st 
of  January,  1854,  this  paper  was  united  with  "  The  Granite 
Farmer,"  under  the  title  of  "  The  Granite  Farmer  and  Vis- 
itor." 

"  The  Coos  County  Democrat,"  Lancaster,  was  estab- 
lished September  11,  1838,  and  was  published  about  two 
years  and  a  half  by  James  M.  Rix  and  James  R.  AVhitte- 
more.  Afterwards  Mr.  Whittemore  became  sole  proprie- 
tor, and  so  continued  until  April  5,  1842,  when  James  ^I. 
Rix  purchased  the  establishment,  and  has  continued  sole 
editor  and  proprietor  xmtil  the  present  time.  The  paper 
is  democratic  in  politics. 


562  >:E\V    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

"The  New  Hampshire  Argus  and  Spectator,"  Newport. 
This  paper  is  now  in  the  31st  volume  of  its  pubHcation.  Its 
predecessors  were  "The  Newport  Spectator  "  and  "  The  New 
Hampshire  Argus,"  both  of  Avhich  journals  were  merged 
into  one  under  the  title  above  given.  "  The  Spectator  " 
was  originally  established  in  Claremont,  in  January,  1823, 
by  Cyrus  Barton,  but  was  soon  after  located  in  Newport, 
-Vrhich  town  was  about  to  be  made  the  county  seat  of  the 
new  county  of  Sullivan.  A  short  time  after  the  removal 
to  Newport,  Mr.  Dunbar  Aldrich  became  a  partner  vv'ith  Mr. 
Barton.  Afterwards  the  partnership  consisted  of  Messrs. 
Barton,  Benjamin  French,  and  Cyrus  Metcalf.  Subse- 
quently, the  paper  was  conducted  by  Messrs.  French  and 
Metcalf  during  the  space  of  a  year  or  more,  when  Mr. 
Metcalf  retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  Simon  Brown.  "  The 
Argus  "  was  established  in  Claremont  in  1833,  removed  to 
Newport  in  1834,  and  was  edited  by  Edmund  Burke. 
The  papers 'Were  united  in  July,  1835,  and  managed  by 
Mr.  Burke  until  January,  1838,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  H.  E.  Baldwin  and  William  English.  Mr.  English, 
soon  leaving,  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  C.  Baldwin,  and 
the  establishment  thus  continued  until  1840,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Messrs.  Carlton  and  Harvey,  its  present  ed- 
itors and  proprietors,  who  have  conducted  the  paper  for 
nearly  sixteen  years.     It  is  democratic  in  politics. 

"  The  Belknap  Gazette."  The  publication  of  this  paper 
was  commenced  by  .Charles  Lane,  at  Meredith  Bridge,  Au- 
gust 5,  1840,  as  an  organ  of  the  democratic  party.  March 
1,  1847,  the  establishment  was  purchased  by  a  company  of 
gentlemen,  when  the  politics  of  the  paper  midcrwent  a 
change.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  whig  party.  The  present  editor  and  proprietor 
is  R.  C.  Stevens,  Esq.      ■'  The  Belknap  Gazette  "  was  the 


NEWSPAPERS.  563 

only  whig  paper  in  the  state  which  openly  sustained  the 
views  of  Mr.  Webster  in  relation  to  the  compromise  meas- 
ures of  1850. 

"  The  Granite  State  Whig,"  established  in  Lebanon, 
about  the  year  184G.  It  was  formerly  called  "  The  White 
Mountain  JEgis,"  and  was  published  in  Lancaster.  It 
was  afterwards  establislied  in  Haverhill  under  the  title 
of  the  "Whig  and  ^gis."  From  this  place  it  was  re- 
moved to  Lebanon,  when  it  received  its  present  name. 
George  S.  Towlc  editor  and  proprietor.  It  is  whig  in  pol- 
itics. 

"  The  Northern  Advocate,"  Claremont,  established  in 
1848.  Joseph  Weber  editor  and  proprietor.  Politics, 
republican. 

"  The  Rockingham  Messenger,"  published  in  Ports- 
mouth. First  number  issued  October  7,  1847.  Politics, 
free  democratic.     Thomas  J.  Whittemore  editor. 

"  The  Union  Democrat,"  Manchester.  A  democratic 
paper,  first  issued  in  1851.  Campbell  and  Gilmore  pub- 
lishers ;  J.  M.  Campbell  editor. 

"  The  Great  Falls  Weekly  Journal  "  Avas  established  at 
Great  Falls  in  1847.  Independent  in  politics.  James  T. 
Furber  editor  and  proprietor. 

"  The  Morning  Star,"  a  religious  journal,  published  in 
Dover,  by  the  Freewill  Baptist  Printing  Establishment. 
It  was  first  published  in  Limerick,  Maine,  and  was  located 
in  Dover  in  18o4.     William  Burr  agpnt. 

"The  New  Hampshire  Phoenix,"  established  at  Con- 
cord, January  1,  1854.  Devoted  to  temperance,  educa- 
tion, and  news.  Rev.  Daniel  Lancaster  editor  and  propri- 
etor. 

"  The  American  News,"  published  in  Keene.  Devoted 
to  temperance,  education,  agriculture,  and  general  miscel- 


564  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

lany.     In  politics,  republican.     S.  Woodward  editor  and 
proprietor. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  Democrat  "  was  established  at 
Meredith  Bridge,  January  1,  1849.  It  was  published  by 
Messrs.  Keach  and  Seaver,  and  edited  by  the  late  Jere- 
miah Elkins,  Esq.  Mr.  Elkins  continued  in  the  editorial 
department  but  a  short  time.  May  23,  1850,  Mr.  Seaver 
sold  out,  and  Mr.  Keach  became  sole  proprietor.  January 
1,  1851,  the  establishment  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Samuel 
C.  Baldwin,  who  conducted  the  establishment  alone  until 
November  12,  1851,  M'hen  David  A.  Farrington  purchased 
half  the  establishment.     It  is  democratic  in  politics. 

"  The  Ammonoosuc  Reporter,"  Littleton,  established 
in  July,  1852,  by  F.  A.  Eastman,  who  conducted  it  until 
September,  1854,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs. 
Bass  and  Churchill,  its  present  proprietors.  Politics,  dem- 
ocratic. 

"  The  Semi- Weekly  State  Capital  Reporter  "  was  estab- 
lished in  Concord,  by  Cyrus  Barton,  January  1,  1852.  In 
May,  1853,  Amos  Hadley  was  associated  with  Mr.  Barton, 
and  in  July,  1853,  "  The  Weekly  Reporter  "  and  «  The 
Old  Guard  "  were  united,  and  Hon.  Edmund  Burke  be- 
came an  extensive  contributor.  In  politics  this  paper  is 
democratic,  though  it  is  opposed  to  the  administration  of 
President  Pierce. 

"  The  Baptist  Observer,"  established  in  Concord,  in 
April,  1852,  by  Ervin  B.  Tripp  publisher  and  proprietor, 
and  Rev.  Edmund  Worth  editor.  Until  January,  1853,  it 
was  issued  semi-monthly.  It  was  afterwards  enlarged,  and 
issued  weekly.  In  March,  1854,  Messrs.  Norton  and 
Crawford  became  proprietors  and  publishers,  and  in  October 
the  firm  was  changed  to  Crawford  and  Chick.  The  pres- 
ent editor  is  Rev.  William  Lamson,  of  Portsmouth. 


NEWSPAPERS.  565 

"  The  Independent  Democrat,"  established  in  Concord, 
in  May,  1845,  as  an  independent  democratic  paper,  in  op- 
position to  the  annexation  of  Texas.  From  its  commence- 
raent  to  the  present  time  it  has  been  under  the  editorial 
charge  of  George  G.  Fogg,  Esq. 

"  The  Democratic  Republican,"  Haverhill.  This  paper 
vras  established  in  July,  1828,  by  Hon.  John  R.  Reding 
editor  and  proprietor.  It  was  first  called  "  The  Democrat- 
ic Republican  and  General  Advertiser,"  the  latter  portion 
of  the  title  being  dropped  after  a  year  or  two.  Mr.  Red- 
ing continued  in  charge  of  the  paper  until  April,  1841, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  H.  AV.  Reding,  the  pres- 
ent editor  and  proprietor.  It  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  democratic  party, 

"  The  American  Ballot,"  a  weekly  journal,  established 
in  Portsmouth,  in  the  summer  of  1854,  and  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  American  party. 

"  The  Stars  and  Stripes,"  established    in    Manchester, 
in  October,   1854,   under   the   charge   of  Messrs.  Tenney 
and  Stevens.     An  organ  of  the  American  party. 
48 


CONSTITUTION    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE, 


APPROVED  BY  THE  PEOPLE,   AND  ESTABLISHED  IN  CONVENTION, 
FIFTH    OF  SEPTEMBER,  1792.* 


PART  FIRST. 
BILL  OF  RIGHTS. 

AsiTCLE  1.  All  men  born  free  ;  all  govern- 
ment originates  from  the  people. 

Art.  2.    Natural  rights  of  men. 

Art.  3.    Natural  rights  when  surrendered. 

Art.  4.  Some  rights  unalienable,  as  those 
of  conscience. 

Art.  5.     Religious  freedom  recognized. 

Art.  6.    The  support  of  the  ministry. 

Art.  7.    Sovereignty  of  the  state. 

Art.  8.  All  officers  are  servants  of  the 
people. 

Art.  9.     No  office  to  be  hereditarj-. 

Art.  10.  Government  for  the  benefit  and 
under  the  control  of  the  people. 

Art.  11.     Freedom  of  elections. 

Art.  12.  Rights  and  duties  of  citizens. 
Property  taken  for  public  uses.  Laws 
when  binding. 

Art.  13.    Exemption  from  bearing  arms. 

Art.  14.  Every  person  ought  to  find  a 
certain  and  speedy  remedy  at  law. 

Art.  15.  Rights  of  persons  prosecuted  for 
crime. 

Art.  16.  No  jierson  to  be  tried  after  ac- 
quittal for  the  same  offence,  nor  for  a 
capital  oflence  except  by  a  jury. 

Art.  17.  Trial  to  be  in  the  county  where 
offence  committed. 

Art.  18.  Penalties  to  be  proportioned  to 
offences. 

Art.  19.     ReRul?.tion  of  search  and  seizure. 

Art.  20.    Trial  by  jury  regulated. 


Art.  21.  Jurors  to  be  carefully  selected 
and  fully  paid. 

Art.  22.    The  liberty  of  the  press. 

Art.  23.     Retrospective  laws  prohibited. 

Art.  24.    Importance  of  the  militia. 

Art.  2o.    Standing  armies  dangerous. 

Art.  26.  The  military  subject  to  the  civil 
power. 

Art.  27.    Soldiers,  how  quartered. 

.\rt.  28.  All  taxes  to  be  levied  by  the 
people. 

Art.  29.  Laws  suspended  by  the  legisla- 
ture only. 

Art.  30.    Freedom  of  speech  and  debate. 

Art.  31.  Object  of  the  assembly  of  the 
legislature. 

Art.  3-?.     Right  of  the  people  to  assemble. 

Art.  33.  Excessive  bail  and  fines  and  cru 
el  punishments  forbidden. 

Art.  34.     Martial  law,  when  exercised. 

Art.  35     The  judiciary  system. 

Art.  36.     Economy  enjoined. 

Art.  37.  The  executive,  legislative,  and 
judicial  powers  to  be  kept  separate. 

Art.  38.  Recurrence  to  fundamental  prin- 
ciples. 

PART  SECOND. 
FOllM  OF  aOVERNMENT. 

1.  Declaration  of  sovereignty. 

GENERAL  COURT. 

2.  Legislative  power,  how  vested 

3.  Meeting  of  the  legislature. 


•  The  fonner  constitution,  having  been  approved  by  the  people,  was  established  by  coi 
vention,  SIst  October,  1783,  and  took  effect  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  June,  1784. 

(566) 


CONSTITUTION    OF  NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


567 


4.  Power  fo  constituto  courts. 

5.  Power  to  establish  lawfi. 

6.  Valuation,  when  and  how  taki^n. 

7.  No  member  to  be  of  counsel. 

8.  Doofd  of  galleries  to  be  open. 

HOUSE   OF   EEPRE8ENTATIVES. 

9.  Representation  to  b«  equal. 

10.  Towu'^  may  be  classed. 

11.  Special  iMjtliority  may  be  given. 
rj.   Election  to  be  held  in  March. 

13.  Qualification  of  voters. 

14.  Q.ualificutions  of  rcpre^sontaiivefe'. 

15.  Members  to  bo  paid. 

16.  Vacancits,  how  filled. 

17.  Power  of  inipeachitiont. 

16.  Money  bills  to  ori|;iiiatc  in  house. 

19.  Power  to  adjourn. 

20.  What  is  a  quorum. 

21.  Exeniptiuu  from  arrest 

i2.  House  to  be  judge  of  its  own  proceed- 
ings. 

23.  Imprisonment  for  contcnipi. 

'24.  Journals  and  laws  to  bo  published.  — 
Yeas  and  nays  and  protect  eiitored  on 
journal. 

si:nat);. 

25.  Senate,  how  constituted. 

28.  Senatorial  districts  made. 

27.  Election  to  be  held  in  March. 

28.  Mode  of  election. 

29.  Qualifications  of  senatom. 

30.  Who  is  an  inhabitant. 

31.  Rights  of  inhabitants  of  places. 

32.  .Mode  of  conductinj;  elections. 

33.  Votes,  how  examined,  and  senatora  no- 

tified. 

34.  Vacancies,  how  filled. 

35.  Senate  to  be  judges  of  their  own  re- 

turns. 
;)6.  Power  to  adjourn. 
,37.  Mode  of  proceeding  and  quorum. 

38.  To  be  a  court  to  try  impeachments. 

39.  Power  of  punishment. 

40.  When  the  governor  is  impeached. 

EXECUTIVE   POWER. 
GOVERNOR. 

41.  Title  of  the  eovernor. 

42.  Governor,  how  chosen. 

43.  Governor  may   adjourn    legislature,  or 

alter  place  of  session. 

44.  Laws  to  be  approved  by  him. 

45.  Resolve?      be  approved  by  him. 


46.  Officers  to  be  appointed  by  tlie  execu- 

tive. 

47.  Ap|)ointments,  how  made. 

48.  Captains,  Slc,  how  commissioned. 

49.  Vacancy  in  oflico,  how  supplied. 

50.  Governor  may  prorogue  the  legislature. 

51.  Governor  to  be  con)mander-in-chief. 

52.  Power  of  p.irdon. 

5:<.  Removal  of  officers  on  address. 

51.  Military  officers,  how  appointed. 

55.  Division  of  the  militia  regulated. 

5<;.  Money,  how  drawn  from  the  treasury. 

57.  Account  of  public  properly  rendered. 

fi8.  Compensation  of  governor  and  council. 

59.  Judge.-*  to  have  permanent  salaries. 

CbUNCIL. 

CO.  Five  councillors  to  be  elected. 

61.  Election,  how  determined. 

C2.  Vacancy,  how  filled. 

63.  Members  may  be  impeached. 

64.  Records  of  ;.'roceedings  kept. 

65.  Council  di^itricts  regulated. 

60.  Elections,  when  completed. 

SECItETARV,  TREASURER,  COMMISSASr 
GENERAL,  &C. 

67.  OtTicers,  how  chofen. 

C8.  Duty  of  secretaiy. 

C9.  Secretary  to  have  deputy. 

70.  Secretary  to  give  bond. 

COUNTY  TREASURER,  iScC. 

71.  To  bo  elected  by  the  people. 

72.  Counties  may  be  divided. 

JUDICIARY  POWER. 

73.  Tenure  of  office. 

74.  Opinion  of  S.  J.  C.  may  be  required. 

75.  Judge  may  be  removed. 

76   Jurisdiction  of  divorce,  probate  ippeilo, 
&,c. 

77.  Jurisdiction  of  justices  of  the  peace. 

78.  Term  of  office  ceases  at  seventy. 

79.  Judge  lU't  to  be  of  counsel. 

80.  Probate  jurisdiction. 

81.  Judge  nor  register  to  be  of  counseL 

CLERKS  or  COURTS. 

82.  Appointment  and  duties  of  clerks. 

ENCOURAGEMENT  OF  LEARNING,  fcO.' 

83.  Encouragement  of  learning. 


568 


NEAV    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


OATHS,   WRITS,    AND   GENERAL   PRO- 
VISIONS. 

&4.  Oaths  of  office,  form,  &c. 

85.  Oaths,  by  whom  administered. 

86  Form  of  commissions. 

87  Form  and  requisites  of  writs. 

88.  Conclusion  of  indictments. 

89.  No  deodand  or  forfeiture  allowed. 

90.  Common  law  in  force. 

91.  Privilege  of  habeas  corpus. 

92.  Enacting  style  declared. 


93.  Governororjudgetohold  nootherofBce. 
91.  Offices  which  are  incompatible. 

95.  Officers  which  are  incompatible. 

96.  Bribery  excludes  from  office. 

97.  Computation  of  money. 

98.  When  constitution  to  take  effect. 

99.  Revision  of  the  constitution. 

100.  Sense  of  the  people  to  be  taken  ever}- 

seven  years. 

101.  Constitution  to  be  enrolled,  and  pub- 

lished with  each  edition  of  the  laws. 


PAET  FIRST. 


BILL   OF  RIGHTS. 

Article  1.  All  men  are  bom  equally  free  and  independent;  therefore 
all  government  of  right  originates  from  the  people,  is  founded  in  consent 
and  instituted  for  the  general  good. 

2.  All  men  have  certain  natural,  essential,  and  inherent  rights ;  among 
which  are,  the  enjoying  and  defending  life  and  liberty  —  acquiring,  pos- 
sessing, and  protecting  property  —  and,  in  a  word,  of  seeking  and  obtaining 
happiness. 

3.  When  men  enter  into  a  state  of  society,  they  surrender  up  some  of 
their  natural  rights  to  that  society,  in  order  to  insure  the  protection  of 
others ;  and  without  such  an  equivalent  the  surrender  is  void. 

4.  Among  the  natural  rights,  some  are  in  their  very  nature  unalienable, 
because  no  equivalent  can  be  given  or  received  for  them.     Of  this  kind  are 

the  RIGHTS    OF    CONSCIEXCB. 

5.  Every  individual  has  a  natural  and  unalienable  right  to  worship  God 
according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience  and  reason ;  and  no  sub- 
ject shall  be  hurt,  molested,  or  restrained  in  his  person,  liberty,  or  estate,  for 
worshipping  God  in  the  manner  and  season  most  agreeable  to  tlie  dictates 
of  his  own  conscience,  or  for  his  religious  profession,  sentiments,  or  persua- 
sion ;  provided  he  doth  not  disturb  the  public  peace,  or  disturb  others  in 
their  religious  worship. 

6.  As  morality  and  piety,  rightly  grounded  on  evangelical  jirinciples, 
will  give  the  best  and  greatest  security  to  government,  and  will  lay  in  the 
hearts  of  men  the  strongest  oliligations  to  due  subjection ;  and  as  the 
knowledge  of  these  is  most  likely  to  be  propagated  through  a  society  by  the 
institution  of  the  public  worship  of  the  Deity,  and  of  public  instruction 
in  morality  and  religion ;  therefore,  to  promote  those  important  purposes, 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  569 

the  people  of  this  state  have  a  right  to  empower,  and  do  hereby  fully  em- 
power the  legislature  to  authorize  from  time  to  time  the  several  towns,  par- 
ishes, bodies  corporate,  or  religious  societies  within  this  state,  to  make 
adequate  provision,  at  their  own  expense,  for  the  support  and  maintenance 
of  public  Protestant  teachers  of  piety,  religion,  and  morality  : 

Provided,  notwithstandimj,  That  the  several  towns,  parishes,  bodies  cor- 
porate, or  religious  societies  shall  at  all  times  have  the  exclusive  right  of 
electing  their  own  public  tcacliers,  and  of  contracting  with  tlicm  for  their 
support  and  maintenance.  And  no  person  of  any  one  particular  religious 
sect  or  denomination  shall  ever  be  compelled  to  pay  towards  the  support 
of  the  teacher  or  teachers  of  another  persuasion,  sect,  or  denomination. 

And  every  denomination  of  Cliristians  demeaning  themselves  quietly,  and 
as  good  subjects  of  the  state,  shall  be  equally  under  the  protection  of  the 
law ;  and  no  subordination  of  any  one  sect  or  denomination  to  another 
shall  ever  be  established  by  law. 

And  nothing  herein  shall  be  understood  to  affect  any  former  contracts 
made  for  the  support  of  the  ministry ;  but  all  such  contracts  shall  remain 
and  be  in  the  same  state  as  if  this  constitution  had  not  been  made. 

7.  The  people  of  this  state  have  the  sole  and  exclusive  right  of  govern- 
ing themselves  as  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  state,  and  do,  and  for- 
ever hereafter  shall,  exercise  and  enjoy  every  power,  jurisdiction,  and  right 
pertaining  thereto,  which  is  not  or  may  not  hereafter  be  by  them  expressly 
delegated  to  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled. 

8.  All  power  residing  originally  in  and  being  derived  from  the  people, 
all  the  magistrates  and  officers  of  government  are  their  substitutes  and 
agents,  and  at  all  times  accountable  to  them. 

9.  No  office  or  place  whatsoever  in  government  shall  be  hereditary  — 
the  abilities  and  integrity  requisite  in  all  not  being  transmissible  to  poster- 
ity or  relatiojis. 

10.  Government  being  institnted  for  the  common  benefit,  protection,  and 
security  of  the  whole  community,  and  not  for  the  private  interest  or  emol- 
ument of  any  one  man,  family,  or  class  of  men,  therefore,  whenever  the 
ends  of  government  are  perverted,  and  public  lil)crty  manifestly  endangered, 
and  all  other  means  of  redress  are  ineflectual,  the  people  may,  and  of  right 
ought  to,  reform  the  old  or  establish  a  new  government.  The  doctrine  of 
non-resistance  against  arbitrary  power  and  oppression  is  absurd,  slavish, 
and  destructive  of  the  good  and  happiness  of  mankind. 

11.  All  elections  ought  to  be  free,  and  every  inhabitant  of  the  state,  hay- 
ing the  proper  qualifications,  has  equal  right  to  elect  and  be  elected  into  office. 

12.  Every  member  of  the  community  has  a  right  to  be  protected  by  it 

48* 


570  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

in  the  enjoyment  of  his  life,  liberty,  and  property  ;  he  is  therefore  bound  to 
contribute  his  sliare  in  the  expense  of  such  protection,  and  to  yield  his  per- 
sonal  service  when  necessary,  or  an  equivalent.  But  no  part  of  a  man's 
property  shall  be  taken  from  him,  or  applied  to  public  uses,  without  his  own 
consent,  or  that  of  the  representative  body  of  the  people.  Nor  are  the  in- 
habitants of  tliis  state  controllable  by  any  other  laws  than  those  to  which 
they,  or  their  representative  body,  have  given  their  consent. 

13.  No  person  who  is  conscientiously  scrupulous  about  the  lawfulness 
of  bearing  arms  shall  be  compelled  thereto,  provided  he  will  pay  an 
equivalent. 

14.  Every  subject  of  this  state  is  entitled  to  a  certain  remedy,  by  hav- 
ing recourse  to  the  laws,  for  all  injuries  he  may  receive  in  his  person,  prop- 
erty, or  character,  to  obtain  right  and  justice  freely,  without  being  obliged 
to  purchase  it;  completely,  and  without  any  denial ;  promptly,  and  without 
any  delay ;  conformably  to  the  laws. 

15.  No  subject  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  any  crime  or  offence  until  the 
same  is  fully  and  plainly,  substantially  and  formally,  described  to  him,  or 
be  compelled  to  accuse  or  furnish  evidence  against  himself.  And  every 
subject  shall  have  a  right  to  produce  all  pi-oofs  that  may  be  favorable  to 
himself,  to  meet  the  witnesses  against  him  face  to  face,  and  to  be  fully  heard 
in  his  defence  by  himself  and  counsel.  And  no  subject  shall  be  arrested, 
imprisoned,  despoiled,  or  deprived  of  his  property,  immunities,  or  privileges, 
put  out  of  the  protection  of  the  law,  exiled,  or  deprived  of  his  life,  liberty, 
or  estate,  but  by  the  judgment  of  his  peers  or  the  law  of  the  land. 

16.  No  subject  shall  be  liable  to  be  tried,  after  an  acquittal,  for  the  same 
crime  or  offence.  Nor  shall  the  legislature  make  any  law  that  shall  subject 
any  person  to  a  capital  punishment  (excepting  for  the  government  of  the 
army  and  navy,  and  the  militia  in  actual  service)  without  trial  by  jury. 

17.  In  criminal  prosecutions,  the  trial  of  facts  in  the  vicinity  where  they 
happen  is  so  essential  to  'the  security  of  the  life,  liberty,  and  estate  of  the 
citizen,  that  no  crime  or  offence  ought  to  be  tried  in  any  other  county  than 
that  in  which  it  is  committed  ;  except  in  cases  of  general  insurrection  in 
any  particular  county,  when  it  shall  appear  to  the  judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  that  an  impartial  trial  cannot  be  had  in  the  county  where  the  offence 
may  be  committed,  and  upon  their  report,  the  legislature  shall  think  proper 
to  direct  the  trial  in  the  nearest  county  in  which  an  impartial  trial  can  be 
obtained. 

18.  All  penalties  ought  to  bo  proportioned  to  the  nature  of  the  offence 
No  wise  legislature  will  affix  the  same  punishment  to  the  crimes  of  theft, 
forgery,  and  the  like,  which  they  do  to  those  of  murder  and  treason :  where 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  571 

the  same  nndistingaishing  scyerity  is  exerted  against  all  offences,  the  peo- 
ple are  led  to  forget  the  real  distinction  in  the  crimes  themselves,  and  to 
commit  the  most  flagrant  with  as  little  compunction  as  they  do  the  lightest 
offences  :  for  the  same  reason  a  multitude  of  sanguinary  laws  is  both  im- 
politic and  unjust ;  the  true  design  of  all  punishments  being  to  reform,  not 
to  exterminate  mankind. 

19.  Every  subject  hath  a  right  to  be  secure  from  all  unreasonable  search- 
es and  seizures  of  his  person,  his  houses,  his  papers,  and  all  his  possessions. 
Therefore  all  warrants  to  search  suspected  places,  or  arrest  a  person  for  ex- 
amination or  trial,  in  prosecutions  for  criminal  matters,  arc  contrary  to  this 
right,  if  the  cause  or  foundation  of  them  be  not  previously  supported  by 
oath  or  affirmation,  and  if  the  order  in  a  warrant  to  a  civil  officer  to  make 
search  in  suspected  places,  or  to  arrest  one  or  more  suspected  persons,  or  to 
seize  their  property,  be  not  accompanied  with  a  special  designation  of  the 
persons  or  objects  of  search,  arrest,  or  seizure  ;  and  no  warrant  ought  to  be 
issued  but  in  cases  and  with  the  formalities  prescribed  by  law. 

20.  In  all  controversies  concerning  property,  and  in  all  suits  between 
two  or  more  persons,  except  in  cases  in  which  it  has  been  heretofore  other- 
wise used  and  practised,  the  parties  have  a  right  to  a  trial  by  jury ;  and 
this  method  of  procedure  shall  be  held  sacred,  unless  in  cases  arising  on  the 
high  seas,  and  such  as  relate  to  mariners'  wages,  the  legislature  shall  think 
it  necessary  hereafter  to  alter  it. 

21.  In  order  to  reap  the  fullest  advantage  of  the  inestimable  privilege 
of  the  trial  by  jury,  great  care  ought  to  be  taken  that  none  but  qualified 
persons  should  bo  appointed  to  serve ;  and  such  ought  to  [be]  fully  com- 
pensated for  their  travel,  time,  and  attendance. 

22.  The  LIBERTY  OF  THE  PRESS  is  csscntial  to  the  security  of  freedom 
in  a  state ;  it  ought,  thcrefori',  to  be  inviolably  preserved. 

23.  Retrospective  laws  are  highly  injurious,  oppressive,  and  unjust.  No 
such  laws,  therefore,  should  be  made,  either  for  the  decision  of  civil  causes 
or  the  punishment  of  offences. 

24.  A  well-regulated  militia  is  the  proper,  natural,  and  sure  defence  of  a 
state. 

25.  Standing  armies  are  dangerous  to  liberty,  and  ought  not  to  be  raised 
or  kept  np  without  the  consent  of  the  legislature. 

26.  In  all  cases,  and  at  all  times,  the  military  ought  to  be  under  strict 
sabordination  to,  and  governed  by,  the  civil  power. 

27.  No  soldier  in  time  of  peace  shall  be  quartered  in  any  hoasfl  Trithont 


572  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS  IT   IS. 

the  consent  of  the  owner ;  and  in  time  of  war,  such  quarters  ought  not  to 
be  made  but  by  the  civil  magistrate,  in  a  manner  ordained  by  the  legis- 
lature. 

28.  No  subsidy,  charge,  tax,  impost,  or  duty  shall  be  established,  fixed, 
laid,  or  levied,  under  any  pretext  whatsoever,  without  the  consent  of  the 
people,  or  their  representatives  in  the  legislature,  or  authority  derived  from 
that  body. 

29.  The  power  of  suspcHding  the  laws,  or  the  execution  of  them,  ought 
never  to  be  exercised  but  by  the  legislature,  or  by  authority  derived  there- 
from, to  be  exercised  in  such  particular  cases  only  as  the  legislature  shall 
expressly  provide  for. 

SO.  The  freedom  of  deliberation,  speech,  and  debate,  in  either  house  of 
the  legislature,  is  so  essential  to  the  rights  of  the  people,  that  it  cannot  be 
the  foundation  of  any  action,  complaint,  or  prosecution  in  any  other  court 
or  place  whatsoever. 

31.  The  legislature  shall  assemble  for  the  redress  of  public  grievances, 
and  for  making  such  laws  as  the  public  good  may  require. 

32.  The  people  have  a  right,  in  an  orderly  and  peaceable  manner,  to 
assemble  and  consult  upon  the  common  good,  give  instructions  to  their 
representatives,  and  to  request  of  the  legislative  body,  by  way  of  petition 
or  remonstrance,  redress  of  the  wrongs  done  them,  and  of  the  grievances 
they  suffer. 

33.  No  magistrate  or  court  of  law  shall  demand  excessive  bail  or 
sureties,  impose  excessive  fines,  or  inflict  cruel  or  unusual  punishments. 

34.  No  person  can  in  any  case  be  subjected  to  law  martial,  or  to  any 
pains  or  penalties  by  virtue  of  that  law,  except  those  employed  in  the  army 
or  navy,  and  except  the  militia  in  actual  service,  but  by  authority  of  the 
legislature. 

35.  It  is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  every  individual, 
his  life,  Ifberty,  property,  and  character,  that  there  bo  an  impartial  interpre- 
tation of  the  laws,  and  administration  of  justice.  It  is  the  right  of  every 
citizen  to  be  tried  by  judges  as  impartial  as  tlie  lot  of  humanity  will  admit. 
It  is  therefore  not  only  the  best  policy,  but  for  the  security  of  the  rights  of 
the  people,  that  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  should  hold  their 
offices  so  long  as  they  behave  well ;  subject,  however,  to  such  limitations,  on 
account  of  age,  as  may  be  provided  by  the  constitution  of  the  state ;  and 
that  they  should  have  honorable  salaries,  ascertained  and  established  by 
Btanding  laws. 


CONSTITDTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  573 

36.  Economy  being  a  most  essential  virtue  in  all  states,  especially  in  a 
young  one,  no  pension  should  be  granted  but  in  consideration  of  actual  ser- 
vices ;  and  such  pensions  ought  to  be  granted  with  great  caution  by  the 
legislature,  and  never  for  more  than  one  year  at  a  time. 

37.  In  the  government  of  this  state,  the  three  essential  powers  thereof, 
to  wit,  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial,  ought  to  be  kept  as  separate 
from  and  independent  of  each  other  as  the  nature  of  a  free  government 
will  admit,  or  as  is  consistent  with  that  chain  of  connection  that  binds  the 
whole  fabric  of  the  constitution  in  one  indissoluble  bond  of  union  and 
amity. 

38.  A  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  constitu- 
tion, and  a  constant  adherence  to  justice,  moderation,  temperance,  industry, 
frugality,  and  all  the  social  virtues,  arc  indispensably  necessary  to  preserve 
the  blessings  of  liberty  and  good  government ;  the  people  ought,  therefore, 
to  have  a  particular  regard  to  all  those  principles  in  the  choice  of  their 
oflBcers  and  representatives  ;  and  they  have  a  right  to  require  of  their  law- 
givers and  magistrates  an  exact  and  constant  observance  of  them  in  the 
formation  and  execution  of  the  laws  necessary  for  the  good  administration 
of  government. 

PART   SECOND. 

FORM    OF   GOVERNMENT. 

1.  The  people  inhabiting  the  territory  formerly  called  the  Province  of 
New  Hampshire  do  hereby  solemnly  and  mutually  agree  with  each  other 
to  form  themselves  into  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  body  politic  or 
state,  by  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hasipshire. 

t 

GENERAL   COURT. 

2.  The  supreme  legislative  power  within  this  state  shall  be  vested  in  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  each  of  which  shall  have  a  negative  on 
the  other. 

3.  The  Senate  and  House  shall  assemble  every  year  on  the  first 
Wednesday  of  June,  and  at  such  other  times  as  they  may  judge  necessary ; 
and  shall  dissolve  and  be  dissolved  seven  days  next  preceding  the  said  first 
Wednesday  of  June,  and  shall  be  styled  the  General  Court  of  New 
Hampshire. 

4.  The  General  Court  shall  forever  have  full  power  and  authority  to  erect 
and  constitute  judicatories  and  courts  of  record,  or  other  courts,  to  be 


574  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

holden  in  the  name  of  the  state,  for  the  hearing,  trying,  and  determining  all 
manner  of  crimes,  ofl'ences,  pleas,  processes,  plaints,  actions,  causes,  matters 
and  things  whatsoever  arising  or  happening  within  this  state,  or  between 
or  concerning  persons  inhabiting  or  residing  or  brought  within  the  same, 
whether  the  same  be  criminal  or  civil,  or  whether  the  crimes  be  capital  or 
not  capital,  and  whether  the  said  pleas  be  real,  personal,  or  mixed,  and  for 
the  awarding  and  issuing  execution  thereon.  To  which  courts  and  judica- 
tories are  hereby  given  and  granted  full  power  and  authority,  from  time  to 
time,  to  administer  oaths  or  affirmations,  for  the  better  discovery  of  truth  in 
any  matter  in  controversy,  or  depending  before  them. 

5.  And  further,  full  power  and  authority  are  hereby  given  and  granted 
to  the  said  General  Court,  from  time  to  time,  to  make,  ordain,  and  establish 
all  manner  of  wholesome  and  reasonable  orders,  laws,  statutes,  ordinances, 
directions,  and  instructions,  either  with  penalties  or  without,  so  as  the  same 
be  not  repugnant  or  contrary  to  this  constitution,  as  they  may  judge  for  the 
benefit  and  welfare  of  this  state,  and  for  the  governing  and  ordering  there- 
of, and  of  the  subjects  of  the  same,  for  the  necessary  support  and  defence 
of  the  government  thereof;  and  to  name  and  settle  annually,  or  provide  by 
fixed  laws,  for  the  naming  and  settling,  all  civil  officers  within  this  state ; 
such  officers  excepted  the  election  and  appointment  of  whom  are  hereafter 
in  this  form  of  government  otherwise  provided  for ;  and  to  set  forth  the 
several  duties,  powers,  and  limits  of  the  several  civil  and  military  officers  of 
this  state,  and  the  foi-ms  of  sucii  oaths  or  affirmations,  as  shall  bo  respec- 
tively administered  unto  them  for  the  execution  of  their  several  offices  and 
places,  so  as  the  same  be  not  repugnant  or  contrary  to  this  constitution ;  and 
also  to  impose  fines,  mulcts,  imprisonments,  and  other  punishments ;  and 
to  impose  and  levy  proportional  and  reasonable  assessments,  rates,  and  taxes 
upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  and  residents  within  the  said  state,  and  upon 
all  estates  within  the  same,  to  be  issued  and  disposed  of  by  warrant  under 
the  hand  of  the  governor  of  this  state  for  the  time  being,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  council,  for  the  public  service,  in  the  necessary  defence 
and  support  of  the  government  of  this  state,  and  the  protection  and  pres- 
ervation of  the  subjects  thereof,  according  to  such  acts  as  are  or  shall  be 
in  force  within  the  same. 

6.  And  while  the  public  charges  of  government,  or  any  part  thereof, 
shall  be  assessed  on  polls  and  estates  in  the  manner  that  has  heretofore 
been  practised,  in  order  that  such  assessments  may  be  made  with  equality 
there  shall  be  a  valuation  of  the  estates  within  the  state  taken  anew  once 
in  every  five  years  at  least,  and  as  much  oftener  as  the  General  Court  shall 
order. 

7.  No  member  of  the  General  Court  shall  take  fees,  be  of  connsel,  or  act 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NKW    ilAMFSHIRE.  576 

as  advocate  in  any  cause  before  cither  branch  of  tlie  legislature ;  and  upon 
due  proof  thereof,  such  member  shall  forfeit  his  seat  in  the  legislature. 

8.  Tlie  doors  of  the  galleries  of  each  house  of  the  legislature  shall  be 
kept  open  to  all  persons  who  behave  decently,  except  when  the  welfare  of 
the  state,  in  the  opinion  of  either  branch,  shall  require  secrecy. 

HOUSE    OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 

9.  There  shall  be  in  the  legislature  of  this  state  a  representation  of  the 
people  annually  elected  and  founded  upon  principles  of  equality;  and  in 
order  that  such  representation  may  be  as  equal  as  circumstances  will  admit, 
every  town,  parish,  or  place  entitled  to  town  privileges,  having  one  hundred 
and  fifty  ratable  male  polls  of  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  upwards,  may 
elect  one  representative  ;  if  four  hundred  and  fifty  ratable  polls,  may  elect 
two  representatives ;  and  so  proceeding  in  that  proportion,  making  three 
hundred  such  ratable  polls  the  mean  increasing  number  for  every  additional 
representative. 

10.  Such  towns,  parishes,  or  places  as  have  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  ratable  polls,  shall  be  classed  by  the  General  Court  for  the  purpose  of 
choosing  a  representative,  and  seasonably  notified  thereof.  And  in  ever}- 
class  formed  for  the  above-mentioned  purpose,  the  first  annual  meeting  shall 
be  held  in  the  town,  parish,  or  place  wherein  most  of  the  ratable  polls 
reside,  and  afterwards  in  that  which  has  the  next  highest  number,  and  so 
on  annually  by  rotation,  through  the  several  towns,  parishes,  or  places  form- 
ing the  district. 

11.  Whenever  any  town,  parish,  or  place  entitled  to  town  privileges  as 
aforesaid,  shall  not  have  one  hundred  and  fifty  ratable  polls,  and  be  so  sit- 
uated as  to  render  the  classing  thereof  with  any  other  town,  parish,  or  place 
very  inconvenient,  the  General  Court  may,  upon  application  of  a  majoritj' 
of  the  voters  iu  such  town,  parish,  or  place,  issue  a  writ  for  their  electing 
and  sending  a  representative  to  the  General  Court. 

12.  The  members  of  tlie  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  chosen  aa- 
nually,  in  the  month  of  March,  and  shall  be  the  second  branch  of  the 
legislature. 

13.  All  persons  qualified  to  vote  in  the  election  of  senators  shall  be 
entitled  to  vote,  within  the  district  where  they  dwell,  in  the  choice  of  repre- 
sentatives. 

14.  Every  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  chosen  by 
ballot,  and  for  two  years  at  least  next  preceding  his  election  shall  have 
been  an  inhabitant  of  tliis  state,  [shall  have  an  estate  within  the  district 


676  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 

which  he  may  be  chosen  to  represent,  of  the  value  of  one  hundred  poundt, 
one  half  of  which  to  be  a  freehold,  whereof  he  is  seized  in  his  own  right;] 
*  shall  be  at  the  time  of  his  election  an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  parish,  or 
place  he  may  be  chosen  to  represent ;  shall  be  of  the  Protestant  religion,  and 
shall  cease  to  represent  such  town,  parish,  or  place  immediately  on  his  ceas- 
ing to  be  qualified  as  aforesaid. 

15.  The  members  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature  shall  be  compen- 
sated for  their  services  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  state,  by  a  law  made  for 
that  purpose ;  such  members  attending  seasonably,  and  not  departing  with- 
out license. 

16.  All  intermediate  vacancies  in  the  House  of  Representatives  may  be 
filled  up  from  time  to  time,  in  the  same  manner  as  annual  elections  are 
made. 

17.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  the  grand  inquest  of  the  state, 
and  all  impeachments  made  by  them  shall  be  heard  and  tried  by  the  Senate. 

16.  All  money  bills  shall  originate  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  but 
the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments  as  on  other  bills. 

19.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  them- 
selves, but  no  longer  than  two  days  at  a  time. 

20.  A  majority  of  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
be  a  quorum  for  doing  business  ;  but  when  less  than  two  thirds  of  the  rep- 
resentatives elected  shall  be  present,  the  assent  of  two  thirds  of  those  mem- 
bers shall  be  necessary  to  render  their  acts  and  proceedings  valid. 

21.  No  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  or  Senate  shall  be 
arrested  or  held  to  bail  on  mesne  process,  during  his  going  to,  returning 
from,  or  attendance  upon  the  court. 

22.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  own  speaker,  ap- 
point their  own  ofiicers,  and  settle  the  rules  of  proceedings  in  their  own 
house,  and  shall  be  judge  of  the  returns,  elections,  and  qualifications  of 
its  members,  as  pointed  out  in  this  constitution.  They  shall  have  au- 
thority to  punish  by  imprisonment  every  person  who  shall  be  guilty  of  dis- 
respect to  the  House  in  its  presence,  by  any  disorderly  and  contemptuous 
behavior,  or  by  threatening  or  ill  treating  any  of  its  members ;  or  by  ob- 
itructing  its  deliberations ;  every  person  guilty  of  a  breach  of  its  privileges 
in  making  arrests  for  debt,  or  by  assaulting  any  member  during  his  attend- 
ance at  any  session  ;  in  assaulting  or  disturbing  any  one  of  its  oflicers   in 

•  See  Amenlilncnt.^■. 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  577 

the  execution  of  any  order  or  procedure  of  the  House ;  in  assaulting  any 
witness  or  other  person  ordered  to  attend  by  and  during  his  attendance  of 
the  House,  or  in  rescuing  any  person  arrested  by  order  of  the  House,  know- 
ing them  to  be  such. 

23.  The  Senate,  governor,  and  council  shall  have  the  same  powers  in 
like  cases ;  provided  that  no  imprisonment  by  either,  for  any  offence,  ex- 
ceed ten  days. 

24.  The  journals  of  tlie  proceedings,  and  all  public  acts  of  both  houses 
of  the  legislature,  shall  be  printed  and  published  immediately  after  every 
adjournment  or  prorogation  ;  and  upon  motion  made  by  any  one  member, 
the  yeas  and  nays  upon  any  question  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal ;  and 
any  member  of  the  Senate  or  House  of  Representatives  shall  have  a  right, 
on  motion  made  at  the  same  time  for  that  purpose,  to  have  his  protest  or 
dissent,  with  the  reasons,  against  any  vote,  resolve,  or  bill  passed,  entered 
on  the  journal. 


25.  The  Senate  shall  consist  of  twelve  members,  who  shall  hold  their 
o£Sce  for  one  year  from  the  first  Wednesday  of  June  next  ensuing  thei^r 
election. 

26.  And  that  the  state  may  be  equally  represented  in  the  Senate,  tiie 
legislature  shall,  from  time  to  time,  divide  the  state  into  twelve  districts,  as 
nearly  equal  as  may  be,  without  dividing  towns  and  unincorporated  places : 
and  in  making  this  division  they  shall  govern  themselves  by  the  propor- 
tion of  direct  taxes  paid  by  the  said  districts,  and  timely  make  known  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  state  the  limits  of  each  district. 

27.  The  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  each  district,  qualified  as 
in  this  constitution  is  provided,  shall  annually  give  in  their  votes  for  a  sena- 
tor, at  some  meeting  holden  in  the  month  of  March. 

28.  The  Senate  shall  be  the  first  branch  of  the  legislature  ;  and  the  sena- 
tors shall  be  chosen  in  the  following  manner,  viz.:  every  male  inhabitant 
of  each  town  and  parish  with  town  privileges,  and  places  unincorporated,  in 
this  state,  of  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  upwards,  excepting  paupers  and 
persons  excused  from  paying  taxes  at  their  own  request,  shall  have  a  right. 
at  the  annual  or  other  meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  towns  and  par 
ishes,  to  be  duly  warned  and  holden  annually  forever  in  the  month  of  March, 
to  vote  in  the  town  or  parish  wherein  he  dwells,  for  the  senator  in  the  district 
whereof  he  is  a  member : 

29.  Provided,  nevertheless,  That  no   person  shall  be  capable  of  being 

49 


5CtH,  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT   ISi 

elected  a  senator  who  is  not  of  the  Protestant  religion  [and  seized  of  a  free- 
hold estate  in  his  own  rights  of  the  value  of  [a]  two  hundred  pounds,  lying 
within  this  state,]  *  who  is  not  of  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  who  shall  not 
have  been  an  inhabitant  of  tlus  state  for  seven  years  immediately  preceding 
his  election,  and  at  the  time  thereof  he  shall  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  district 
for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

30.  And  every  person  qualified  as  the  constitution  provides  shall  be  con- 
sidered an  inhabitant  for  the  purpose  of  electing  and  being  elected  into  any 
office  or  place  within  this  state,  in  the  tovra,  parish,  and  plantation  where 
he  dwelleth  and  hath  his  home. 

31.  And  the  inhabitants  of  plantations  and  places  unincorporated,  qual- 
ified as  this  constitution  provides,  who  are  or  shall  be  required  to  assess  taxes 
upon  themselves  towards  the  support  of  government,  or  shall  be  taxed 
therefor,  shall  have  the  same  privilege  of  voting  for  senators  in  the  planta- 
tions and  places  wherein  they  reside,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  respective 
towns  and  parishes  aforesaid  have.  And  the  meetings  of  such  plantations 
and  places  for  that  purpose  shall  be  holden  annually  in  the  month  of 
March,  at  such  places  respectively  therein  as  tlie  assessors  thereof  shall  di- 
rect; which  assessors  shall  have  like  authority  for  notifying  the  electoi-s,  col- 
lecting and  returning  the  votes,  as  the  selectmen  and  town  clerks  have  in 
their  several  towns  by  this  constitution. 

32.  The  meetings  for  the  choice  of  governor,  council,  and  senators  shall  be 
warned  by  warrant  from  the  selectmen,  and  governed  by  a  moderator,  who 
shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  selectmen,  (whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  attend,)  in 
open  meeting,  receive  the  votes  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  such  towns  and 
parishes  present,  and  qualified  to  vote  for  senators  ;  and  shall,  in  said  meet- 
ings, in  presence  of  the  said  selectmen,  and  of  the  town  clerk,  in  said  meet- 
ings, sort  and  count  the  said  votes,  and  make  a  public  declaration  thereof,  ' 
with  the  name  of  every  person  voted  for,  and  the  number  of  votes  for  each 
person  ;  and  the  town  clerk  shall  make  a  fair  record  of  the  same  at  large 
in  the  town  book,  and  shall  make  out  a  fair  attested  copy  thereof,  to  be  by 
him  sealed  up  and  directed  to  the  secretary  of  the  state,  with  a  superscrip- 
tion expressing  the  pui7)ort  thereof :  and  the  said  town  clerk  shall  cause 
such  attested  copy  to  be  delivered  to  the  sheriff  of  the  county  in  which  said 
town  or  parish  shall  lie  thirty  days  at  least  before  the  first  Wednesday  of 
June,  or  to  the  secretary  of  the  state  at  least  twenty  days  before  the  said  first 
Wednesday  of  June  :  and  the  sheriff  of  each  county,  or  his  deputy,  shall 
deliver  all  such  certificates,  by  him  received,  into  the  secretary's  office,  at 
least  twenty  days  before  the  first  Wednesday  of  June. 

*  See  AraendmenU. 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  579 

33.  An^  that  there  may  be  a  due  mectitij;  of  senators  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  June,  annually,  the  governor  and  a  majority  of  the  council  for  the 
time  being  shall,  as  soon  us  may  be,  examine  the  returned  copies  of  such 
records;  and  fourteen  days  before  the  first  Wednesday  of  June,  he  shall  is- 
sue his  summons  to  such  persons  as  appear  to  bo  chosen  senators  by  a  ma- 
jority of  votes,  to  attend  and  take  their  scats  on  that  day  :  provided,  never- 
theless, that  for  the  first  year  the  said  returned  copies  shall  be  examined  by 
the  president  and  a  majority  of  the  council  then  in  office  ;  and  the  said  pres- 
ident shall  in  like  manner  notify  the  persons  elected  to  attend  and  take 
their  seats  accordingly. 

34.  And  in  case  there  shall  not  appear  to  be  a  senator  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority of  votes  for  any  district,  the  deficiency  .shall  be  supplied  in  the  follow- 
ing manner,  viz.:  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  such 
senators  as  shall  be  declared  elected,  shall  take  the  names  of  the  two  per- 
sons having  the  highest  number  of  votes  in  the  district,  and  out  of  them 
shall  elect,  by  joint  ballot,  the  senator  wanted  for  such  district :  and  in  this 
manner  all  such  vacancies  shall  be  filled  up  in  every  district  of  tlic  state ;  and 
in  like  manner  all  vacancies  in  the  Senate,  arising  by  death,  removal  out 
of  the  state,  or  otherwise,  shall  lie  supplied  as  soon  :is  may  be  after  such 
vacancies  happen. 

35.  The  Senate  shall  be  final  judges  of  the  elections,  returns,  and  quali- 
fications of  their  own  members,  as  pointed  out  in  this  constitution. 

36.  The  Senate  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  themselves,  provided  such 
adjournment  do  not  exceed  two  days  at  a  time  : 

Provided,  nevertheless,  That  whenever  they  shall  sit  on  the  trial  of  any 
impeachment,  they  may  adjourn  to  such  time  and  place  as  they  may  think 
proper,  although  the  legislature  be  not  assembled  on  such  day,  or  at  such 
place. 

37.  The  Senate  shall  appoint  their  ])resident  and  other  officers,  and  de- 
termine their  own  rules  of  proceedings.  And  not  less  than  seven  members 
of  the  Senate  shall  make  a  quorum  fordoing  business  ;  and  when  less  than 
eight  senators  shall  be  present,  the  assent  of  five,  at  least,  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  render  their  acts  and  proceedings  valid. 

38.  The  Senate  shall  be  a  court,  with  full  power  and  authority  to  hear, 
try,  and  detci-mine  all  impeachments  made  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
against  any  officer  or  officers  of  the  state,  for  bribery,  corruption,  malprac- 
tice, or  maladministration  in  office,  witli  full  power  to  issue  summons  or 
compulsory  process  for  convening  witnesses  before  them  ;  but  previous  to 
tlie  trial  of  any  such  impeachment,  tli'e  members  of  the  Senate  shall  respec- 
tively be  sworn   truly  and   im|inrrir,lly  to  try  and  determine  the  charge  in 


580  NEW   HAMPSHIRE   AS   IT    IS. 

question  according  to  evidence.  And  every  officer  impeached  for  bribery, 
corruption,  malpractice,  or  maladministration  in  office,  shall  be  served  with 
an  attested  copy  of  the  impeachment  and  order  of  Senate  thereon,  with 
such  citation  as  the  Senate  may  direct,  setting  forth  the  time  and  place  of 
their  sitting  to  try  the  impeachment;  which  service  shall  be  made  by  the 
fiherifF,  or  such  other  sworn  officer  as  the  Senate  may  appoint,  at  least  four- 
teen davs  previous  to  the  time  of  trial ;  and  such  citation  being  duly  served 
and  returned,  the  Senate  may  proceed  in  the  hearing  of  the  impeachment, 
giving  the  person  impeached,  if  he  shall  appear,  full  liberty  of  producing 
witnesses  and  proofs,  and  of  making  his  defence,  by  himself  and  counsel, 
and  may  also,  upon  his  refusing  or  neglecting  to  appear,  hear  the  proofs  in 
support  of  the  impeachment,  and  render  judgment  thereon,  his  non-appear- 
ance notwithstanding ;  and  such  judgment  shall  have  the  same  force  and 
effect  as  if  the  person  impeached  had  appeared  and  pleaded  in  the  trial 

39.  Their  judgment,  however,  shall  not  extend  further  than  removal 
from  office,  disqualification  to  hold  or  enjoy  any  place  of  honor,  trust,  or 
profit  under  this  state  ;  but  the  party  so  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  lia- 
ble to  indictment,  trial,  judgment,  and  punishment,  according  to  the  laws 
of  the  land. 

40.  Whenever  the  governor  shall  be  impeached,  t}ie  chief  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court  shall,  during  the  trial,  preside  in  the  Senate,  but 
have  no  vote  therein. 


EXECUTIVE  POWER. 
GOVERXOR. 

41.  There  shall  be  a  supreme  executive  magistrate,  who  shall  be  styled 
governor  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  whose  title  shall  be  his  ex- 
cdlency. 

42.  The  governor  shall  be  chosen  annually  in  the  month  of  March ;  and 
the  votes  for  governor  shall  be  received,  sorted,  counted,  certified,  and  returned 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  votes  for  senators ;  and  the  secretary  shall  lay  the 
same  before  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  on  the  first  Wednesday 
of  June,  to  be  by  them  examined,  and  in  case  of  an  election  by  a  majority  of 
votes  through  the  state,  the  choice  shall  be  by  them  declared  and  published. 
And  the  qualifications  of  electors  of  the  governor  shall  be  the  same  as  those 
for  senators  ;  and  if  no  person  shall  have  a  majority  of  votes,  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives  shall  by  joint  ballot  elect  one  of  the  two  per- 
sons having  the  highest  number  of  votes,  who  shall  be  declared  governor. 
And  no  person  shall  lie  eligible  to  this  office  unless  at  the  time  of  his  elec- 
tion he  shall  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  this  state  for  seven  years  next  pw- 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  581 

ceding,  and  unless  he  shall  be  of  the  age  of  thirty  years  ;  [and  unless  he 
shall  at  the  same  time  have  an  estate  of  the  value  of  Jive  hundred  pounds, 
one  half  of  which  shall  consist  of  a  freehold  in  his  own  rigiit,  within  this 
state;]*  and  unless  he  shall  be  of  the  Protestant  religion. 

43.  In  cases  of  disagreement  between  tlie  two  houses,  with  regard  to  the 
time  or  place  of  adjournment,  or  prorogation,  the  governor,  with  advice  ol 
council,  shall  have  a  right  to  adjourn  or  prorogue  the  General  Court,  not  ex- 
ceeding ninety  days  at  any  one  time,  as  he  may  determine  the  public  good 
may  require.  And  he  shall  dissolve  the  same  seven  days  before  the  said 
first  Wednesday  of  June.  And  in  case  of  any  infectious  distemper  prevail- 
ing in  the  place  where  the  said  court  at  any  time  is  to  convene,  or  any 
other  cause  whereby  dangers  may  arise  to  the  liealtli  or  lives  of  the  mem- 
bers, from  their  attendance,  tiie  governor  may  direct  the  scs.>ion  to  be  holden 
at  some  other,  the  most  convenient  place  within  tlie  state. 

44.  Every  bill  which  shall  iiave  passed  both  houses  of  tlie  General  Court 
shall,  before  it  become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  governor ;  if  he  approve,  he 
shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it  with  his  objections  to  that  house 
in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on 
their  journal  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it ;  if  after  such  reconsideration  two 
thirds  of  that  house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together 
with  such  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  recon- 
sidered, and  if  approved  by  two  thirds  of  that  house,  it  shall  become  a  law. 
But  in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas 
and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  or  against  the  bill  shall 
be  entered  on  the  journal  of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not 
be  returned  by  the  governor  within  five  days  (Sundays  excepted)  after  it 
shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law  in  like  manner  as 
if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  legislature,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its 
return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

45.  Every  resolve  shall  be  presented  to  the  governor,  and  before  the 
same  shall  take  eft'ect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  disapproved  by 
him,  shall  be  repassed  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

46.  All  judicial  oflicers,  the  attorney  general,  solicitors,  all  sheriffs,  cor- 
oners, registers  of  probate,  and  all  oflicers  of  the  navy,  and  general  and 
field  oflicers  of  the  militia,  shall  be  nominated  and  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  council ;  and  every  such  nomination  shall  be  made  at  least  three 
days  prior  to  such  appointment,  and  no  appointment  shall  take  place  unless 
a  majority  of  the  council  agree  thereto. 

♦  See  Amendments. 

49* 


582  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 

47.  The  goveraor  and  council  shall  have  a  negative  on  each  other,  both 
in  the  nominations  and  appointments.  Every  nomination  and  appointment 
shall  be  signed  by  the  governor  and  council,  and  every  negative  shall  be 
also  signed  by  the  governor  or  council  who  made  the  same. 

48.  The  captains  and  subalterns  in  the  respective  regiments  shall  be  nom- 
inated and  recommended  by  the  field  officers  to  the  governor,  who  is  to  is- 
sue their  commissions  immediately  on  the  receipt  of  such  recommendation. 

49.  Whenever  the  chair  of  the  governor  shall  become  vacant  by  reason 
of  his  death,  absence  from  the  state,  or  otherwise,  the  president  of  the  Senate 
shall,  during  the  vacancy,  have  and  exercise  all  the  powers  and  authorities 
which  by  this  constitution  the  governor  is  vested  with,  when  personally  pres- 
ent :  but  when  the  president  of  the  Senate  shall  exercise  the  oifice  of  gov 
ernor,  he  shall  not  hold  his  ofiice  in  the  Senate. 

50.  The  governor,  with  the  advice  of  council,  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority,  in  recess  of  the  General  Court,  to  prorogue  the  same  from  time  to 
time,  not  exceeding  ninety  days  in  any  one  recess  of  said  court ;  and  during 
the  sessions  of  said  court,  to  adjourn  or  prorogue  it  to  any  time  the  two 
houses  may  desire,  and  to  call  it  together  sooner  than  the  time  to  which  it 
may  be  adjourned  or  prorogued,  if  the  welfare  of  the  state  should  require 
the  same. 

51.  The  governor  of  this  state,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy,  and  all  the  military  forces  of  the  state,  by 
sea  and  land  ;  and  shall  have  full  power  by  himself,  or  by  any  chief  com- 
mander, or  other  oflicer  or  oflScers,  from  time  to  time,  to  train,  instruct, 
exercise,  and  govern  the  militia  and  navy  ;  and  for  the  special  defence  apd 
safety  of  this  state,  to  assemble  in  martial  array  and  put  in  warlike  posture 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  to  lead  and  conduct  them,  and  with  them  to 
encounter,  repulse,  repel,  resist,  and  pursue,  by  force  of  arms,  as  well  by 
sea  as  by  land,  within  and  without  the  limits  of  this  state;  and  also  to  kill, 
slay,  destroy,  if  necessary,  and  conquer  by  all  fitting  ways,  enterprise, 
and  means,  all  and  every  such  person  and  persons  as  shall,  at  any  time  here- 
after, in  a  hostile  manner  attempt  or  enterprise  the  destruction,  invasion, 
detriment,  or  annoyance  of  this  state  ;  and  to  use  and  exercise  over  the  ar- 
my and  navy,  and  over  the  militia  in  actual  service,  the  law  martial  in  time 
of  war,  invasion,  and  also  in  rebellion,  declared  by  the  legislature  to  exist, 
as  occasion  shall  necessarily  require  :  And  surprise,  by  all  ways  and  means 
whatsoever,  all  and  every  such  person  or  persons,  with  their  ships,  arms,  am- 
munition, and  other  goods,  as  shall  in  a  hostile  manner  invade,  or  attempt 
the  invading,  conquering,  or  annoying  this  state:  And,  in  fine,  the  gov- 
ernor hereby  is  intrusted  with  all  other  powers  incident  to  the  ofiice  of  cap- 
tain-general and  commander-in-chief,  and  admiral,  to  be  exercised  agreea- 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  5S^ 

bly  to  the  rnlos  and  regulations  of  the  constitution,  and  the  laws  tffthe 
land  :  provided,  that  the  governor  shall  not  at  any  time  hereafter,  by  virtue 
of  any  power  by  this  constitution  grunted,  or  hereafter  to  be  granted  to  him 
by  the  legislature,  transport  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  state,  or  oblige 
them  to  inarch  out  of  the  limits  of  the  same,  without  their  free  and  volun- 
tary consent,  or  the  consent  of  tiie  General  Court,  nor  grant  commissions 
for  exercising  the  law  martial  in  any  case,  w  ithout  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  council. 

52.  The  power  of  jjardouing  offences,  except  such  as  persons  may  be 
convicted  of  before  the  Seuate  by  impeachment  of  the  House,  shall  be  in 
the  governor,  by  and  with  tlic  advice  of  council :  but  no  charter  of  pardon 
granted  by  the  governor  with  advice  of  council,  before  conviction,  shall 
avail  the  party  pleading  the  same,  notwithstanding  any  general  or  particu- 
lar expressions  contained  therein,  descriptive  of  the  offence  or  offences  in- 
tended to  be  pardoned. 

53.  No  officer  duly  commiisioned  to  command  in  the  militia  shall  be  re- 
moved from  his  office  but  by  tiie  address  of  both  houses  to  the  governor,  or 
by  fair  trial  in  court  martial,  pursuant  to  the  laws  of  the  state  for  the  time 
being. 

54.  The  commanding  officers  of  the  regiments  shall  appoint  their  adju- 
tants and  quartermasters :  the  brigadiers  their  brigade  majors  :  the  major  gen- 
erals their  aids  ;  the  captains  and  subalterns  their  non-commissioned  officers. 

55.  The  division  of  the  militia  into  brigades,  regiments,  and  companies, 
made  in  pursuance  of  the  militia  laws  now  in  force,  shall  be  considered  as 
the  proper  division  of  the  militia  of  this  state  until  the  same  shall  be  altered 
by  some  future  law. 

56.  No  moneys  shall  be  issued  out  of  the  treasury  of  this  state,  and  dis- 
posed of,  (except  such  sums  as  may  be  ajjpropriated  for  the  redemption  of 
bills  of  credit  or  treasurer's  notes,  or  for  the  payment  of  interest  arising 
thereon,)  but  by  warrant  under  the  hand  of  the  governor  for  the  time  being,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  council,  for  the  necessary  support  and 
defence  of  this  state,  and  for  the  necessary  protection  and  preservation  of 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  agreeably  to  the  acts  and  resolves  of  the  General 
Court. 

57.  All  public  boards,  the  commissary  general,  all  superintending  officers 
of  public  magazines  and  stores,  belonging  to  this  state,  and  all  commanding 
officers  of  forts  and  garrisons  within  the  same,  shall  once  in  every  three 
Inonths,  officially,  and  without  requisition,  and  at  other  times  when  required 
by  the  governor,  deliver  to  him  an  account  of  all  goods,  stores,  provisions, 
«iDmunitu)n,  oannon  with  their  appendages,  and  all  small  arms  with  their 


584  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    13. 

accoutrements,  and  of  all  other  public  property  under  their  care  respective- 
ly, distinguishing  the  quantity  and  kind  of  each  as  particularly  as  may  be, 
together  with  the  condition  of  such  forts  and  garrisons  ;  and  the  command- 
ing officer  shall  exhibit  to  the  governor,  when  required  by  him,  true  and 
exact  plans  of  such  forts,  and  of  the  land  and  sea,  or  harbor  or  harbors,  ad- 
jacent. 

58.  The  governor  and  council  shall  be  compensated  for  their  services, 
from  time  to  time,  by  such  grants  as  the  General  Court  shall  think  reason- 
able. 

59.  Permanent  and  honorable  salaries  shall  be  established  by  law  for 
the  justices  of  the  Superior  Court. 


60.  There  shall  be  annually  elected  by  ballot  five  councillors,  for  advis- 
ing the  governor  in  the  executive  part  of  government.  The  freeholders 
and  other  inhabitants  iu  each  county,  qualified  to  vote  for  senators,  shall 
some  time  in  the  month  of  March  give  in  their  votes  for  one  councillor ; 
which  votes  shall  he  received,  sorted,  counted,  certified,  and  returned  to  the 
secretary's  office,  in  the  same  "manner  as  the  votes  for  senators,  to  be  by 
the  secretary  laid  before  the  Senate  and  House  of  Ecpresentatives  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  June. 

61.  And  the  person  having  a  majority  of  votes  in  any  county  shall  be 
considered  as  duly  elected  a  councillor ;  but  if  no  person  shall  have  a  ma- 
jority of  votes  in  any  county,  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives 
shall  take  the  names  of  the  two  persons  who  have  the  highest  number  of 
votes  in  each  county,  and  not  elected,  and  out  of  those  two  shall  elect  by 
joint  ballot  the  councillor  wanted  for  such  county ;  and  the  qualifications 
for  councillors  shall  be  the  same  as  for  senator. 

62.  If  any  person  thus  chosen  a  councillor  shall  be  elected  governor,  or 
member  of  either  branch  of  the  legislature,  and  shall  accept  the  trust ;  or 
if  any  person  elected  a  councillor  shall  refuse  to  accept  the  office  ;  or  in  the 
case  of  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal  of  any  councillor  out  of  the 
state,  the  governor  may  issue  a  precept  for  the  election  of  a  new  councillor 
in  that  county  where  such  vacancy  shall  happen  ;  and  the  choice  shall  be  in 
the  same  manner  as  before  directed  ;  and  the  governor  shall  have  full  power 
and  authority  to  convene  the  council  from  time  to  time,  at  his  discretion  ; 
and  with  them,  or  the  majority  of  them,  may  and  shall,  from  time  to  time, 
hold  a  council  for  ordering  and  directing  the  affairs  of  this  state  according 
to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

6.3.     The  members  of  the  council   may  be  impeached  by  the  Hotiae, 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMI'SIIIKI-:.  585 

and  tried  by  the  Senate,  for  bribery,  corruption,  malpractice,  or  maladmin. 
istration. 

64.  The  resolutions  and  advice  of  the  council  shall  be  recorded  by  the 
secretary  in  a  re^'istcr,  and  sifjned  by  all  the  members  present  agreeing 
thereto  ;  and  this  record  may  be  called  for  at  any  time  by  either  house  of 
the  legislature,  and  any  member  of  the  council  may  enter  liis  opinion 
contrary  to  the  resolution  of  the  majority,  with  tlie  reasons  for  such 
opinion. 

65.  The  legislature  may,  if  the  public  good  shall  hereafter  rc(iuire  it, 
divide  the  state  into  five  districts,  as  nearly  equal  as  may  be,  governing 
themselves  by  the  number  of  ratable  polls  and  proportion  of  public  taxes ; 
each  district  to  elect  a  councillor ;  and  in  case  of  such  division,  the  manner 
of  the  choice  shall  be  conformable  to  the  present  mode  of  election  in 
counties. 

66.  And  whereas  the  elections  appointed  to  be  made  by  this  constitution 
on  the  first  Wcilnesday  of  June  annually,  by  the  two  houses  of  the  legisla- 
ture, may  not  be  completed  on  that  day,  the  said  elections  may  be  ad- 
journed from  day  to  day  until  the  same  be  completed.  And  the  order  of 
the  elections  j^hall  be  as  follows  :  the  vacancies  in  the  Senate,  if  anj-,  shall 
be  first  filled  up ;  the  governor  shall  then  be  elected,  provided  there  should 
be  no  ('hoice  of  him  by  the  people,  and  afterwards  the  two  houses  shall 
proceed  to  fill  up  tiie  vacancy,  if  any,  in  the  council. 


SECRETARY,   TKEASLREU,    COJTMISSARY   GENERAL,   &C. 

67.  The  secretiiry,  treasurer,  and  commissary  general  shall  be  chosen  by 
joint  ballot  of  tlie  senators  and  representatives  assembled  in  one  room. 

68.  The  records  of  the  state  shall  be  kept  in  the  office  of  the  secretarA* ; 
and  he  shall  attend  the  governor  and  council,  the  senate  and  representatives, 
in  person  or  l)y  deputy,  as  they  may  require. 

69.  The  secretary  of  the  state  shall  at  all  times  have  a  deputy,  to  be  by 
him  appointed,  for  whose  conduct  in  oftice  he  shall  be  responsible  ;  and  in 
case  of  the  deatli,  removal,  or  inability  of  the  secretary,  his  deputy  shall 
exercise  all  the  duties  of  the  office  of  secretary  of  state  until  another  shall 
be  appointed. 

70.  The  secretary,  before  he  enters  upon  tlie  business  of  his  office,  shall 
give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  a  reasonable  sum,  for  the  use  of  the 
state,  for  the  punctual  performance  of  his  trust. 


• 


5S6  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT   IS. 


hi 
COUNTY   TBEASUREE8,    &C.  '^'^ 

71.  The  county  treasurers  and  registers  of  deeds  shall  be  elected  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  several  to\vns  in  the  several  counties  in  the  state  accord- 
ing to  the  method  now  practised,  and  the  laws  of  the  state : 

Provided,  nevertheless,  The  legislature  shall  have  authority  to  alter  the  man- 
ner of  certifying  the  votes  and  the  mode  of  electing  those  officers,  but  not  so 
as  to  deprive  the  people  of  the  right  they  now  have  of  electing  them. 

72.  And  the  legislature,  on  the  application  of  the  major  part  of  the  in- 
habitants of  any  county,  shall  have  authority  to  divide  the  same  into  two 
districts  for  registering  deeds,  if  to  them  it  shall  appear  necessary ;  each 
district  to  elect  a  register  of  deeds  ;  and  before  they  enter  upon  the  business 
of  their  othces,  shall  be  respectively  sworn  faithfully  to  discharge  the  dutife 
thereof,  and  shall  severally  give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  a  reasona- 
ble sum,  for  the  use  of  the  county,  for  the  punctual  performance  of  their 
respective  trusts. 


JCDICIAKT   POWER. 

73.  The  tenure  that  all  commissioned  officers  shall  have  by  law  in  their 
offices  shall  be  expressed  in  their  respective  commissions.  All  judicial 
officers,  duly  appointed,  commissioned,  and  sworn,  shall  hold  their  offices 
during  good  behavior,  excepting  those  concerning  whom  there  is  a  different 
provision  made  in  this  consXi\Mi\or\:  provided,  nevei-thcless,  the  president,* 
with  consent  of  the  council,  may  remove  them  upon  the  address  of  both 
houses  of  the  legislature. 

74.  Each  branch  of  the  legislature,  as  well  as  the  governor  and  council, 
shall  have  authority  to  require  the  opinions  of  the  justices  of  the  Superior 
Court  upon  important  questions  of  law  and  upon  solemn  occasions. 

75.  In  order  that  the  people  may  not  suffer  from  the  long  continuance  in 
place  of  any  justice  of  the  peace,  who  shall  fnil  in  discharging  the  impor- 
tant duties  of  his  office  with  ability  and  fidelity,  all  commissions  of  justices 
of  the  i)cacc  shall  become  void  at  the  expiration  of  five  years  from  their 
respective  dates ;  and  upon  the  expiration  of  any  commission,  the  same 
may,  if  necessary,  be  renewed,  or  another  person  appointed,  as  shall  most 
conduce  to  the  well  being  of  the  state. 

76.  All  causes  of  marriage,  divorce,  and  alimony,  and  all  appeals  from 

*  Ofivemor  in  former  printed  editions,  but  president  in  the  originaL 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIUE.  '587 

the  respective  judges  of  probate,  shall  be  hoard  and  tried  by  the  Superior 
Court,  until  the  legislature  shall  by  law  make  other  provision. 

77.  The  General  Court  are  empowered  to  give  to  justices  of  the  peace 
jurisdiction  in  civil  cau.sos,  when  the  damages  demanded  shall  not  exceed 
four  pounds,  and  title  of  real  estate  is  not  concerned  ;  but  with  right  of  ap- 
peal to  either  party  to  some  other  court,  so  that  a  trial  by  jury  in  the  last 
resort  may  be  had. 

78.  No  person  shall  hold  the  office  of  judge  of  any  court,  or  judge  of 
probate,  or  sheriff'  of  any  county,  after  he  has  attained  the  age  of  seventy 
years. 

79.  No  judge  of  any  court,  or  justice  of  the  peace,  shall  act  as  attorney, 
or  be  of  counsel  to  any  party,  or  originate  any  civil  suit,  in  matters  which 
shall  come  or  be  brought  before  him  as  judge  or  justice  of  the  peace. 

80.  All  matters  relating  to  the  probate  of  wills  and  granting  letters  of 
administration  shall  be  exercised  by  the  judges  of  probate  in  such  manner 
as  the  legislature  have  directed,  or  may  hereafter  direct:  and  the  judges  of 
probate  .shall  hold  their  courts  at  such  place,  or  places,  on  such  fixed  days 
as  the  conveniency  of  the  people  may  require,  and  the  legislature  from  time 
to  time  appoint. 

81.  No  judge  or  register  of  probate  shall  be  of  counsel,  act  as  advocate, 
or  receive  any  fees  as  advocate  or  counsel,  in  any  probate  business  which 
is  pending,  or  may  be  brought  into  any  court  of  probate  in  the  county  of 
which  he  is  judge  or  register. 


CLERKS    OF    COURTS. 

82.  The  judges  of  the  courts  (those  of  probate  excepted)  shall  appoint 
their  respective  clerks,  to  hold  their  office  during  pleasure ;  and  no  sucb 
clerk  shall  act  as  an  attorney,  or  be  of  counsel  in  any  cause  in  the  court  of 
which  he  is  clerk,  nor  shall  he  draw  any  writ  originating  a  civil  action. 


ENCOORAOEMENT  OF  LITLRATURE,  &C. 

83.  Knowledge  and  learning,  generally  diffused  through  a  community, 
being  essential  to  tlie  preservation  of  a  free  government,  and  spreading 
.the  opportunities  and  advantages  of  education  tlirough  the  various  parts  of 
tjhe  country  being  highly  conducive  to  promote  this  end.  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  legislators  and  magistrates,  in  all  future  periods  of  this  govern- 


588  NEW   HAMPSHIRE    AS   IT    IS. 

ment,  to  cherish  the  interest  of  literature  and  the  sciences,  and  all  semina- 
ries  and  public  schools,  to  encourage  private  and  public  institutions,  re- 
wards and  immunities  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  arts,  sciences,  com- 
merce, trades,  manufactures,  and  natural  history  of  the  country ;  to  coun- 
tenance and  inculcate  the  principles  of  humanity  and  general  benevolence, 
public  and  private  charity,  industry,  and  economy,  honesty  and  punctuali- 
ty, sincerity,  sobriety,  and  all  social  aflfections,  and  generous  sentiments 
among  the  people. 


oaths  and  subsckiptions.    exclusion  from  offices.    commissions. 
Vkits.    confirmation  of  laws,    habeas  corpus,    the  enacting 

STYLE.      continuance     OF     OFFICERS.      PROVISIONS      FOR      A     FUTURE 
revision    of   THE    CONSTITUTION,    &C. 

84.  Any  person  chosen  governor,  councillor,  senator,  or  representative, 
HLilitary  or  civil  officer,  (town  officers  excepted,)  accepting  the  trust,  shall, 
before  he  proceeds  to  execute  the  duties  of  his  office,  make  and  subscribe 
the  following  declaration,  viz. :  — 

I,  A  B,  do  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  bear  faith  and  true  allegiance  to 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  will  support  the  constitution  thereof.  So 
help  me  God. 

I,  A  B,  do  solemnly  and  sincerely  swear  and  affirm,  that  I  will  faithfully 
and  impartially  discharge  and  perform  ail  the  duties  incumbent  on  me  as 
according  to  the  best  of  my  abilities,  agreeably  to  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  this  constitution  and  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire.    So  help  me  God. 

Any  person  having  taken  and  subscribed  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the 
same  being  filed  in  the  secretary's  office,  he  shall  not  be  obliged  to  take 
said  oath  again : 

Provided  always.  When  any  person  chosen  or  appointed  as  aforesaid  shall 
be  of  the  denomination  called  Quakers,  or  shall  be  scrupulous  of  swearing, 
and  shall  decline  taking  tiic  said  oaths,  such  person  shall  take  and  subscribe 
them,  omitting  the  word  '•  swear,''  and  likewise  the  words  '•  so  help  me  God," 
subjoining  instead  thereof,  "  This  I  do   under  the  pains  and  penalties  of  per- 

85.  And  the  oaths  or  affirmations  shall  be  taken  and  subscribed  by  the 
governor,  before  the  president  of  the  Senate,  in  presence  of  both 
houses  of  the  legislature,  and  by  the  senators  and  representatives  first 
elected  under  this  constitution,  as  altered  and  amended,  before  the  presi- 
dent of  the  state  and  a  majority  of  the  council  then  in  office,  and  forever 


CONSTITUTION    OP    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  589 

afterwards  before  the  governor  and  council  for  the  time  being  ;  and  by  all 
other  officers,  before  such  persons  and  in  such  manner  as'  the  legislature 
shall  from  time  to  time  appoint. 

86.  All  commissions  shall  be  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, signed  by  the  governor,  and  attested  by  the  secretary,  or  his  deputy, 
and  shall  have  the  great  seal  of  the  state  affixed  thereto. 

87.  All  writs  issuing  out  of  the  clerk's  office  in  any  of  tlie  courts  of  law, 
shall  be  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  ;  shall  be  under  the 
seal  of  the  court  whence  they  issue,  and  bear  test  of  the  chief,  first,  or  senior 
justice  of  the  court;  but  when  such  justice  shall  be  interested,  then  the  writ 
shall  bcur  test  of  some  other  justice  of  the  court,  to  which  the  same  shall  be^ 
returnable,  and  be  signed  by  the  clerk  of  such  court.  • 

88.  All  indictments,  presentments,  and  informations  shall  conclude 
against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  state. 

89.  The  estate  of  such  persons  as  may  destroy  their  own  lives  shall  nov 
for  that  offence  be  forfeited,  but  descend  or  ascend  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
such  persons  had  died  in  a  natural  way.  Nor  shall  any  article  which  shall 
accidentally  occasion  the  death  of  any  person  be  henceforth  deemed  a  deo- 
dand,  or  in  any  wise  forfeited  on  account  of  such  misfortune. 

I 

90.  All  the  laws  which  have  heretofore  been  adopted,  used,  and  approved 

in  the  Province,  Colony,  or  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  usually  practised 
on  in  the  courts  of  law,  shall  remain  and  be  in  full  force  until  altered  and 
repealed  by  the  legislature ;  such  parts  thereof  only  excepted  as  are  repug- 
nant to  the  rights  and  liberties  contained  in  this  constitution ;  provided, 
that  nothing  herein  contained,  when  compared  with  the  twenty-third  article 
in  the  bill  of  rights,  shall  be  construed  to  affect  the  laws  already  made 
respecting  the  persons  or  estates  of  absentees. 

91.  The  privilege  and  benefit  of  the  habeas  corpus  shall  be  enjoyed  in 
this  state,  in  the  most  free,  easy,  cheap,  expeditious,  and  ample  manner,  and 
shall  not  be  suspended  by  the  legislature,  except  upon  the  most  urgent  and 
pressing  occasions,  and  for  a  time  not  exceeding  three  months. 

92.  The  enacting  style  in  making  and  passing  acts,  statutes,  and  laws 
shall  be  —  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  TToitse  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened. 

93.  No  governor,  or  judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  shall  hold 
any  office  or  place  under  the  authority  of  this  state,  except  such  as  by  this 
constitution  they  are  admitted  to  hold,  saving  that  the  judges  of  the  said 
court  may  hold  the  offices  of  justices  of  the  peace  throughout  the  state ; 

50 


590  NBW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    ISv 

nor  shall  they  hold  any  place  or  office,  or  receive  any  pension  or  salary,  from 
any  other  state,  government,  or  power  whatever. 

94.  No  person  shall  be  capable  of  exercising  at  the  same  time  more 
than  one  of  the  following  otfices  in  this  state,  viz.,  judge  of  probate,  sheriff, 
register  of  deeds  :  and  never  more  than  two  offices  of  profit,  which  may 
be  held  by  appointment  of  the  governor,  or  governor  and  council,  or  Senate 
and  Iljuse  of  Representatives,  or  Superior  or  Inferior  Courts  :  military  of- 
fices and  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  excepted. 

• 

95.  No  person  holding  the  office  of  judge  of  any  court,  except  special 
judges,  secretary,  treasurer  of  the  state,  attornej'  general,  commissary  gen- 
eral, military  officers  receiving  pay  from  the  continent  or  this  state,  except- 
ing officers  of  the  militia,  occasionally  called  forth  on  an  emergency,  regis- 
ter of  deeds,  sherifl',  or  officers  of  the  customs,  including  naval  officers,  col- 
lectors of  excise  and  state  and  continental  taxes,  hereafter  appointed  and 
not  having  settled  their  accounts  with  the  respective  officers  with  whom  it 
is  their  duty  to  settle  such  accounts,  members  of  Congress,  or  any  person 
holding  any  office  under  the  United  States,  shall  at  the  same  time  hold  the 
office  of  governor,  or  have  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  or  House  of  Representa- 
tives, or  Council ;  but  his  being  chosen  and  appointed  to  and  accepting  th6 
same  shall  operate  as  a  resignation  of  their  seat  in  the  chair,  Senate,  or 
House  of  Representatives,  or  Council,  and  the  place  so  vacated  shall  be 
filled  up.  No  member  of  tiie  Council  shall  have  a  seat  in  the  Senate  or 
House  of  Representatives. 

96.  No  person  shall  ever  be  admitted  to  hold  a  seat  in  the  legislature, 
or  any  office  of  trust  or  importance  under  this  government,  who,  in  the  due 
course  of  law,  has  been  convicted  of  bribery  or  corruption  in  obtaining  an 
election  or  appointment. 

97.  In  all  cases  where  sums  of  money  are  mentioned  in  this  constitution, 
the  value  thereof  shall  be  computed  in  silver  at  six  shillings  and  eight 
pence  per  ounce. 

98.  To  the  end  that  there  may  be  no  failure  of  justice  or  danger  to  the 
state,  by  the  alterations  and  amendments  made  in  the  constitution,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  is  hereby  fully  authorized  and  directed  to  fix  the  time  when  the 
alterations  and  amendments  shall  take  effect,  and  make  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements accordingly.* 

99.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  and  assessors  of  the  several 
towns  and  places  in  this  state,  in  warning  the  first  annual  meetings  for  the 
choice  of  senators,  after  the  expiration  of  seven  years  from  the  adoption  of 
this  constitution  as  amended,  to  insert  expressly  in  the  warrant  this  pmr- 
pose  among  the  others  for  the  meeting,  to  wit:  to  take   the  sense  of  the 

•  8««  act  of  December  14, 1792. 


CONSTITUTION    OF    NBW    HAMPSHIRK.  591 

qualified  voters  on  the  sultjcct  of  a  revision  of  the  constitution :  and  the 
meeting  being  warned  accordingly,  and  not  otherwise,  the  moderator  shall 
take  the  sense  of  tlic  qualified  voters  present  as  to  the  necessity  of  a  revis- 
ion ;  and  a  return  of  the  numhcr  of  votes  for  and  against  such  necessity 
shall  be  made  by  the  clerk,  sealed  up  and  directed  to  the  General  Court  at 
their  then  next  session  ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  tiie  General  Court  by  such 
retnrn,  that  the  sense  of  the  people  of  the  state  has  been  taken,  and  that  in 
the  opinion  of  the  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  in  the  state  present  and 
voting  at  said  meetings,  tiiere  is  a  necessity  for  a  revision  of  the  constitu- 
tion, it  sliall  be  tlie  duty  of  the  General  Court  to  call  a  convention  for  that 
purpose ;  otherwise  tlie  General  Court  shall  direct  the  sense  of  the  people 
to  be  taken,  and  then  proceed  in  the  manner  before  mentioned.  The  dele- 
gates to  be  chosen  in  the  same  maimer,  and  proportioned  as  the  representa- 
tives to  the  General  Court :  provided,  that  no  alterations  shall  be  made  in 
this  constitution  before  the  same  shall  be  laid  before  tiie  towns  and  unincor- 
porated places,  and  approved  by  two  thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  present 
and  voting  on  the  subject. 

100.  And  the  same  method  of  taking  the  sense  of  the  people  as  to  a 
revision  of  tlie  constitution,  and  calling  a  convention  for  that  purpose,  shall 
be  observed  afterwards,  at  the  expiration  of  every  .seven  years. 

101.  This  form  of  government  shall  be  enrolled  on  parchment,  and  de- 
posited in  the  secretary's  office,  and  bo  a  part  of  the  laws  of  the  land,  and 
printed  copies  thereof  shall  be  prefixed  to  the  books  containing  the  laws  of 
this  state,  in  all  future  editions  thereof. 


IN   CONVENTION, 

Hbld  at  Concord,  the  Sth  Day  of  September,  Anno  Domini,  1792. 

The  returns  from  the  several  towns  and  unincorporated  places  being  ex- 
amined, and  it  appearing  that  the  foregoing  bill  of  rights  and  form  of  gov- 
ernment, as  amended  by  the  convention,  were  approved  by  more  than  two 
thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  present  in  town  meetings,  and  voting  upon 
the  question,  the  same  are  agreed  on  and  established  by  the  delegates  of 
the  peojile  in  convention,  and  declared  to  be  the  civil  constitution  of  the 
state  of  New  Hampshire. 

SAMUEL  LIVERMORE, 

President  of  the  Convention. 
Attest  — 
JOHN   C^\XFE,  Secretary. 


598  NEW    HAMPSHIRE    AS    IT    IS. 


AMENDMENTS. 

PROCLAMATION. 

Executive  Department,  i 
Concord,  September  16, 1852. ) 
Be  it  knmcn.  That  I,  Noah  Martin,  governor  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  obedience  to  the  request  of  the  constitutional  convention,  do  here- 
l)y  proclaim  to  the  people  of  this  State,  that  the  constitution  of  the  same 
is  amended,  by  striking  from  it,  in  part  2d,  section  14th,  the  words  "shall 
have  an  estate  tcithin  the  distiict  where  he  may  he  chosen  to  represent,  of  the 
value  of  one  hundred  pounds,  one  half  of  u-h.irh  to  he  a  freehold  ichereof  he  is 
scired  in  his  own  right ;  "  and  from  section  20th.  the  words  "  and  seized  of  a 
freehold  estate  in  his  oicn  right  of  the  value  of  a  hundred  pounds,  heing  within 
this  state ;  "  and  section  42d,  the  words.  "  and  unless  he  shall  at  the  same  time 
have  an  estate  of  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds,  one  half  of  which  sliall  coti' 
sist  of  a  freehold  in  his  own  right,  within  this  state.'' 

The  foregoing  property  qualifications  are  stricken  out.  and  the  constitu- 
tion is  thus  amended  by  the  suffrages  of  more  than  two  thirds  of  the  legal 
voters  present  in  town  meeting  and  voting  upon  the  questions. 

[L.  S.]  Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  seal  of  the  state  affixed,  at  the 
council  chamber,  September  the  sixteenth,  A.  D.  1852,  and  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  seventy- 
seventh. 

NOAH   MARTIN. 
By  the  governor. 

JOHN  L.    HADLEY,  Secretary  of  Stale. 

STATE   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE, 

Secretary  of  State's  Office,  ) 
Concord,  January  27,  1853.  J 
A  true  copy  of  the  original. 

Attest  — JOHN   L.    UADLV^Y,  Sea-etary  of  State. 


APPENDIX. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

FOR    THE    GAZETTEER. 

Charlestown. — In  the  description  of  Charles- 
town  a  ridge  of  land  is  spoken  of  as  extending 
nearly  through  the  entire  length  of  the  town,  on 
its  "  westerly  "  limits, — -it  should  read  "  easterly." 

Clare^iont. — The  number  of  communicants 
connected  with  Trinity  Church  is  about  125.  The 
cost  of  the  edifice  recently  erected  by  this  Society 
for  a  house  of  worship,  exclusive  of  land,  was  about 
^7.,500.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  this 
town  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  numbering^ 
about  350  members,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
Rev.  F.  A.  Hewes,  who  is  now  on  his  second  con- 
ference year.  They  now  worship  in  a  spacious 
new  edifice,  erected  about  two  years  since,  at  a  cost 
of  about  ^7,000.  The  new  church  is  50  by  74  ft, 
and  will  seat  comfortably  a  congregation  of  700 ; 
is  thoroughly  built,  and  like  most  of  the  churches 
of  this  denomination,  convenience  and  accommo- 
dation for  a  large  congregation  were  more  consult- 
ed in  its  construction  than  mere  ornament;  though 
the  building  in  its  interior  finish  is  exceedingly 
neat,  and  externally, — being  located  upon  elevated 
ground  on  Central  street, — presents  a  fine  and  im- 
posing appearance. 


t 

2 

Dublin. — A  large  portion  of  the  Grand  Monad- 
nock  lies  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town. 

GiLMANTON. — The  Academy  in  this  town  was 
incorporated  in  1794,  and  was  endowed  with  j^5,- 
500,  and  one-fourth  of  a  township  of  land. 

Hampton. — Ship-building,  which  formerly  con- 
stituted a  large  item  in  the  business  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, has  not  been  carried  on  to  any  extent  for 
several  years. 

Laconia. — At-  the  June  session  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Legislature,  1855,  a  new  town  was  in- 
corporated, composed  of  the  easterly  part  of  Mere- 
dith and  the  village  heretofore  known  as  Meredith 
Bridge,  and  called  Laconia. 

Littleton. — The  North  Village  is  a  pleasant 
and  flourishing  part  of  the  town.  There  is  in  this 
town  a  Scythe  manufactory  which  does  an  exten- 
sive business. 

Peterboro'. — The  North  Branch  Kiver  is 
known  by  the  name  of  Goose  Brook.  There  are 
4  meeting  houses  in  this  town  instead  of  5,  as 
formerly  stated.  The  names  of  the  petitioners  to 
the  Lieut.  Governor  of  Mass.,  in  1750,  are  as  iol- 
lows : 

thomas  Morrison,     John  white,      John  Hill, 
Alexe  Robbe,  James  Gordon,  William  Scott. 

James  michell,        John  Smith,     thomas  Vender, 
William  Robbe. 


LIST    OF    BANKS    IN    OPERATION    IN 
IN    JUNE,     1855. 

Amoskea-f  Hank,  Manchester, 

Asliuelot  Bank,  Kecne, 

Belknap  Couiiiy  Bank,  Meredith, 

Carroll  County  Bank,  Sandwich, 

Cheshire  Bank,  Keen?, 

Citizens'  Bank,  Sanbornlon  Bridge, 

City  Bank,  Manchester, 

Claremont  Bank, 

Cocheco  Bank,  Dover, 

Connecticut  River  Bank,  Charlesiown, 

Dover  Bank,  Dover, 

Farmington  Bank,  Farmington, 

Francestown  Bank,  Francestown, 

Granite  State  Bank,  Exeter, 

Great  Falls  Bank,  Somersworib, 

Indian  Head  Bank,  Nashua, 

Lake  Bank,  VVolfboro' 

Lancaster  Bank,  Lancaster, 

Langdon  Bank,  Dover, 

Bank  of  Lebanon, Lebanon,  •* 

Manchester  Bank,  Manchester, 

Mechanics'  Bank,  Concord, 

Mechanics'  and  Traders'  Bank,  Portsmouth, 

Merrimack  County  Bank,  Concord, 

Monadnock  Bank,  Jaffrey, 

Nashua  Bank,  Nashua, 

New  Ipswich  Bank,  New  Ipswich, 

Pawtuckaway  Bank,  Epping, 

Petetboro'  Bank,  Peterboro,' 

Piscataqua  Exchange  Bank,  Portsmouth, 

Pittsfield  Baok,  Pittsfield. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE 


Capital 

$150,CC0 

K 

100,000 

'« 

80,000 

(( 

50.000 

It 

100,000 

tl 

50,000 

(( 

150,000 

.( 

100,000 

•  t 

100,000 

tl 

100,000 

« 

100,000 

l< 

50,000 

(( 

60,000 

t( 

125,000 

i( 

150,000 

u 

100,000 

U 

50,000 

«( 

50,000 

(( 

100,000 

IC 

100,000 

It 

125,000 

If 

100,000 

II 

141,000 

II 

80,000 

i( 

50,000 

l( 

125,000 

<I 

100,000 

(1 

50,000 

" 

50,000 

11 

SOO.CCO 

It 

50,000 

Capital. 

«80,000 

u 

200,000 

:> 

50  000 

t( 

J50  000 

(( 

130,000 

It 

50,000 

n 

50.000 

n 

50,000 

n 

50  000 

li 

100000 

Rochester  Bank,  Rochester, 
Rockinjham  Bank.  Poristnouth, 
Salmon  Falls  Bank,  Roliinsfind, 
Slate  Capitol  Bank,  Concord, 
Strafford  Bank,  Dover, 
SujTar  River  Bank,  Ne-vport, 
Warner  Bank,  Warner, 
Weare  Bank,  Hampton  Falls, 
White  Mountain  Bink,  La.icasler, 
Winchester  Bank,  Winchester, 

The  following  Banks  were  chartered  during  the 
session  of  the  Legislature  in  June  1855 :  The 
Souhegan  Bank,  Milford ;  The  Pittsfield  Savings 
Bank,  Pittsfield ;  The  New  Market  Bank,  New 
Market ;  The  Cheshire  County  Bank,  Keene ; 
The  Somersworth  Bank,  Somersworth  ;  The  Con- 
cord Savings  Bank,  Concord  ;  The  Bank  of  New- 
Hampshire,  Portsmouth ;  The  Plymouth  Bank, 
Plymouth;  The  Exeter  Bank,  Exeter ;  The  Mer- 
rimack River  Bank,  Manchest  T  ;  The  Ashuelot 
Savings  Bank,  Winchester ;  The  J3erry  Bank, 
Derry ;  The  Pennachuck  Bank,  Nashua. 


t 


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